Deafness and challenging behaviour: the 360° perspective. Edited by Sally Austen and Dave Jeffery, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 2007, 328pp, ISBN 0470025484

Abstract

This book offers a multidisciplinary perspective on the wide area of deafness and challenging behaviour from a range of international contributors. It brings together a number of topics and covers conceptual and contentious issues with clarity in four sections.The fi rst section provides an introduction to deafness and challenging behaviour beginning with reports from deaf service users. This use of case studies highlights the gaps in services and the complex nature of challenging behaviour. The discussion of defi nitions, models and concepts, along with an overview of the cultural, social and psychological aspects of deafness, give the reader a comprehensive grounding for future chapters. There is also a consideration of the need for increased awareness and training for those working with service users and the problems relating to diagnosis and misdiagnosis.The book then turns to look at the aetiology of challenging behaviour. It examines factors relating to parenting young deaf children; the impact of parental belief and perception; the relationship between deafness and challenging behaviour and other factors leading to challenging behaviour in young deaf children. Professionals working with challenging behaviour are considered through an exploration of the psychodynamic approach. Attention is given to the implications for deaf sign language users with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) and the diffi culties this presents for diagnosis of both deafness and ASD. Older deaf people are also discussed, including the differing needs presented by this group and how they can be addressed.Section three of the book looks at managing challenging behaviour. The use of the National Guidelines for de-escalating situations using communication is discussed with reference to deaf people and their diverse needs. Application of generic approaches and the suitability of these for those with 114Book review special needs and the case for specialist approaches for these groups are also considered. This is followed by an examination of the historical, legal and professional context of managing behaviour and of the contentious issue of the use of physical restraint, particularly with children. The importance of BSL and communication in dealing with challenging behaviour and the need for a relationship-based treatment model are argued. This leads to a discussion of the role of deaf staff and interpreters. The identifi ed need for sign language training and the promotion of a non-threatening environment, to avoid frustration and communication breakdown, opens the debate across the health service for effective inter-regional working practices. Section four of the book examines forensic services and starts with a discussion of deaf people and the criminal justice services and the clash of cultures that can occur. This highlights the need for full and fair participation for deaf people in the legal profession. There is an interesting discussion of the 'unfi t to plead' application to deaf people and the resulting automatic incarceration in ...