The author has had many years’ experience with difficult children. This book, which was first published in 1996 and has been updated, is written for parents and teachers.

The opening chapter catches the attention immediately by describing the life of Liz, the mother of Simon, aged 8, who is so out of control that she is driven to the point of collapse.

Simon is transformed by the author’s “multimodal” approach to children with very challenging behaviour.

The author is clear that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder has a biological basis. From this premise, he argues the case for combining the judicious use of medication with a behaviour programme involving home and school.

The result is accessible for those who want to know more about ADHD, and there are checklists and practical suggestions for parents and practitioners.

Rona Tutt,

President, National Association of Head Teachers