BOOK REVIEW

WHEN THE BRAIN CAN'T HEAR; Unraveling the Mystery of Auditory Processing Disorder, by Teri James Bellis, Ph.D,(PKBK, Riverside, New Jersey, 2002) is a welcome addition to the professional library of any educator or allied professional. Dr. Bellis is the author of Assessment and Management of Central Auditory Processing Disorders in the Educational Setting: From Science to Practice. Her articles appear in medical and academic publications, including Journal of Neuroscience.

WHEN THE BRAIN CAN'T HEAR delineates the ways that auditory processing disorders affect the ability of an individual to comprehend and interpret auditory input, especially speech, scrambling that information and misinterpreting that which the speaker said.

The case studies cover a wide range of people with auditory processing deficits, from pre-school through elderly individuals. Dr. Bellis informs the reader that hearing impairment, once addressed, e.g., with hearing aids, may not resolve the struggle caused by weak auditory perception.

In this informative text, Dr. Bellis describes the characteristics, diagnosis and treatment for children and adults with auditory processing deficits. She lists how these learning differences may affect academics, reading, spelling, speech, receptive language, problem solving and socialization.

She also lists the warning signs of APD for individuals from preschool through college, and defines the diagnosis of APD, as well as the primary and secondary subtypes and their related symptoms.

Dr. Bellis offers ways to improve academic and other environments, including work and home, which benefits individuals struggling with these deficits. She also provides techniques for interacting with this population more successfully.

The text is useful to parents, educators and medical professionals, and Atrium Press will release a paperback edition in July, 2003.