Synopses & Reviews
The syndrome of nonverbal learning disabilities (NLD) is now widely regarded as a subtype of learning disabilities whose neuropsychological assets and deficits have predictable academic and psychosocial outcomes. This volume is the first systematic attempt to bring together evidence that bears upon the white matter model, which was designed to encompass its complex manifestations, and the neuropsychological underpinnings of the NLD syndrome. Covering a range of pediatric neurological diseases and disorders relevant to the applicability of the model, chapters also illuminate the neuropsychophysiological elements of the model. Dimensions relevant to both assessment and treatment are raised in many sections of the work, as are suggestions for future research. This book will be of value to neuropsychologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and pediatricians treating children with learning disabilities. It also serves as a text for graduate courses in neuropsychology and learning disabilities.
Review
"This work provides the most current and compelling information about nonverbal learning disabilities (NLD). Dr. Rourke has succeeded in bringing together international authorities to explicate issues relevant to the etiology, diagnosis, manifestation, developmental course, and treatment of the NLD syndrome across a number of pediatric neurological diseases and disorders. The comprehensive discussions of the white matter model are state-of-the-art and provide the first definitive classification of the cognitive, linguistic, perceptual, motor, and sensory system sequelae of the NLD syndrome. This book is a major contribution to the literature and should be required reading for researchers and clinicians." --G. Reid Lyon, Ph.D., National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
"A unique volume presenting up-to-date reviews of a variety of genetic and acquired neurodevelopmental syndromes. Each chapter is organized around the central theme of Rourke's current model of nonverbal learning disabilities. Ranging from rare developmental to more common childhood disorders, anatomical, developmental, neuropsychological and neurological are presented. Each disorder is then addressed as to its relevance to the Rourke model. This volume is an excellent resource for readers interested in a developmental approach to understanding the behavioral manifestations of the nonverbal learning disabilities." --Eileen B. Fennell, Ph.D., Professor of Clinical and Health Psychology and Neurology, University of Florida.
"Byron Rourke has been a pioneer in developing the concept of a syndrome of nonverbal disabilities and foremost in study of its manifestations. His ideas on how to integrate findings on brain abnormalities and on associated cognitive and behavioral malfunction are constructively provocative and controversial. This edited volume takes on the ambitious task of bringing together such apparently diverse disorders such as Asperger syndrome, Williams syndrome, hydrocephalus, fetal alcohol syndrome and traumatic brain injury within a model of which brain matter dysfunction, with the manifestations modified by amount of tissue damage and developmental timing. Not everyone will agree with the propositions put forward but all readers will find this impressively scholarly, but readable, review of the evidence and conceptual inferences usefully thought-provoking." --Michael Rutter, MD, FRS, Medical Research Council Child Psychiatry Unit, London
Review
"Highly useful for researchers and clinicians....The authors' prose is straightforward and articulate...Recommended for any students or professional interested in this unique area."--Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment
Synopsis
The syndrome of nonverbal learning disabilities (NLD) is a subtype of learning disabilities whose neuropsychological assets and deficits have predictable academic and psychosocial outcomes. Developed by Byron P. Rourke and elucidated in his previous work, the "white matter model" was designed to encompass the complex manifestations and neurophysiological underpinnings of the NLD syndrome. Now, for the first time, evidence that bears upon the white matter model has been gathered into a single volume. Building upon Rourke's previous work on NLD,
Syndrome of Nonverbal Learning Disabilities: Neurodevelopmental Manifestations, further explores the ramifications of NLD in the neuropsychology of learning disabilities and in pediatric neurological disease, disorder, and dysfunction.
Following an overview of the white matter model, chapters cover a wide range of pediatric neurological diseases and disorders through which the model is examined with particular attention to its neurophysiological aspects. The diseases and disorders discussed include callosal agenesis, Asperger syndrome, velocardiofacial syndrome, Williams syndrome, de Lange syndrome, early hydrocephalus, Sotos syndrome, congenital hypothyroidism, acute lymphocytic leukemia, metachromatic leukodystrophy, Turner syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, and toxicant-induced encephalopathy. Dimensions relevant to both assessment and treatment are raised throughout the work, as are suggestions for future research.
Recommended for neuropsychologists, neurologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and pediatricians treating children with learning disabilities or with pediatric neurological disease, disorder, and dysfunction, Syndrome of Nonverbal Learning Disabilities serves both as an authoritative update on recent advances and as a text for advanced courses in child/developmental neuropsychology, pediatric neurology, and learning disabilities.
About the Author
Byron P. Rourke is Professor of Psychology and University Professor at the University of Windsor and a member of the faculty of the Child Study Center, School of Medicine, Yale University. Past President of the International Neuropsychological Society and of the Division of Clinical Neuropsychology of the American Psychological Association, he is cofounder and coeditor of the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, The Clinical Neuropsychologist and Child Neuropsychology and serves on the editorial boards of a number of scientific and professional journals. He was the 1994 recipient of the Canadian Psychological Association's Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Practice of Psychology. His authored, coauthored, and edited books include Nonverbal Learning Disabilities, Child Neuropsychology, Learning Disabilities and Psychosocial Functioning, Neuropsychological Validation of Learning Disability Subtypes, Neuropsychological Assessment of Children, and Neuropsychology of Learning Disabilities.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction: The NLD Syndrome and the White Matter Model; Byron P. Rourke
2. White Matter Physiology and Pathology; Katy B. Fuerst and Byron P. Rourke
3. Callosal Agenesis; Lisa A. Smith and Byron P. Rourke
4. Asperger Syndrome; Ami Klin, Sara S. Sparrow, Fred R. Volkmar, Domenic V. CIcchetti, and Byron P. Rourke
5. Velocardiofacial Syndrome; Katy B. Fuerst, Catherine B. Dool, & Byron P. Rourke
6. Williams Syndrome; Peter E. Anderson & Byron P. Rourke
7. de Lange Syndrome; Katherine D. Tsatsanis and Byron P. Rourke
8. Early Hydrocephalus; Jack M. Fletcher, Bonnie Brookshire, Timothy P. Bohan, Michael Brandt, and Kevin Davidson
9. Sotos Syndrome; Catherine B. Dool, Katy B. Fuerst, and Byron P. Rourke
10. Congenital Hypothyroidism; Joanne Rovet
11. Neuropsychological Consequences of Prophylactic Treatment for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia; Erin M. Picard and Byron P. Rourke
12. Metachromatic Leukodystrophy; Catherine B. Dool, Katy B. Fuerst, and Byron P. Rourke
13. Turner Syndrome; Joanne Rovet
14. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome; Audrey Don and Byron P. Rourke
15. Multiple Sclerosis; Roberta F. White and Maxine Krengel
16. Traumatic Brain Injury; Linda Ewing-Cobbs, Jack M. Fletcher, and Harvey S. Levin
17. Toxicant-Induced Encephalopathy; Roberta F. White and Maxine Krengel
18. Conclusions and Future Directions; Katherine D. Tsatsanis and Bryon P. Rourke
Appendix: Treatment Program for the Child with NLD; Byron P. Rourke
Index