Living with Spina Bifida

The most common complex birth defect, spina bifida affects approximately 1 out of every 1,000 children born in the United States. In this comprehensive new guide, Dr. Adrian Sandler offers a wealth of useful information on the medical, developmental, and psychological aspects of this condition. Accurate, accessible, and up-to-date, Living with Spina Bifida is written especially for families and professionals who care for children, adolescents, and adults with spina bifida. Chapters are arranged according to the developmental stages of childhood: from birth through infancy, school age, adolescence, and young adulthood. In each chapter, Sandler discusses relevant medical, health, and psychosocial aspects of spina bifida, addressing such concerns as education, daily living, and family relationships. Numerous illustrations, a glossary, a list of spina bifida associations, suggestions for further reading, and special parent-to-parent sections further enhance the text. Positive and practical in its approach, this guide will be a valuable resource for families as well as for doctors, health care workers, teachers, therapists, and other professionals involved in caring for children with spina bifida.