Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism | 
 enlarge | Author: Jenny Mccarthy
Publisher: Dutton Adult
Category: Book
List Price: $23.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  241 reviews
Sales Rank: 3471
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 224
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.8 x 0.9
ISBN: 0525950117
Dewey Decimal Number: 618.92858820092
EAN: 9780525950110
ASIN: 0525950117
Publication Date: September 17, 2007
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Product Description
If someone you love is diagnosed with autism, LOUDER THAN WORDS is the first book you should read.
One morning, Jenny McCarthy was having a cup of coffee when she sensed something was wrong. She ran into her two-year-old son Evans room and found him seizing. In that moment, Jenny went from being the mother of an average toddler to being in the midst of a medical odyssey. Doctor after doctor misdiagnosed Evan untilafter many harrowing, life-threatening episodes laterone amazing doctor discovered that Evan is autistic.
Though Evan finally had a diagnosis, Jenny didnt know what to do next and she soon found herself alone without any resources except for her determination to help her son. Jenny eventually realized that shed have to become a detective. She spoke with many doctors, parents, governmental agencies, private foundations, and essentially earned a Phd in Google Research. At last, she discovered an intense combination of behavioral therapy, diet, and supplements that became the key to saving Evan from autism. And, now in this book, she creates a roadmap for parents who are concerned about their own child.
Jenny does more than just reveal the winning formula that worked for Evan. Her story shares the frustrations and joys of raising an autistic child and shows how with love and determination a parent can shape their childs life and happiness.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 236 more reviews...
 A fantastic, easy read for parents of autistic kids, and those with other disabled children July 6, 2008
Like another reviewer of this book, I am compelled to give my first review on Amazon. However, UNLIKE the other reviewer, I give this book a resounding five stars, and would give it more if I could.
My three year old daughter does not have classic autism, but instead has infantile spasms (a form of epilepsy) and is developing autistic like behaviors. Whether it progresses into autism remains to be seen. There is a close link between infantile spasms and epilepsy, and as a result I've been hyperaware of watching for behaviors and symptoms.
I read this book in one sitting. I was riveted, and felt like I was reading about MY life and MY journey with my daughter and epilepsy. Like McCarthy, I *DID* experience (and continue to experience) the hysteria and absolute disgust and frustration with doctors and medical professionals who shrug us off and have no clue what they're dealing with. Like McCarthy, I *DID* experience a sudden, immediate life change when the seizures started for my daughter. There was no gradual, easing into this life of a disabled child. One day she was fine, the next day...not fine.
I APPRECIATED reading a book by a mother who wasn't fine with the status quo. Who pushed, and pushed, and pushed until she got an accurate diagnosis. Who didn't calmly & peacefully say "Oh, everythign happens for a reason", someone who got angry and demanded the best for their child.
Am I a celebrity of means like McCarthy? I wish! I'm just a regular, average parent who got therapy through Early Intervention, and soon through the School District. Not once did I feel put down by McCarthy or my choices for the therapies we choose for our daughter.
Instead, I felt EMPOWERED to demand research; demand justification for medications used on my daughter. I felt EMPOWERED to find doctors who would work with my DAUGHTER, not just her symptoms. My daughter is a unique individual with unique medical needs. A one-size-fits-all approach won't work for her or for us, and more than anything, I felt affirmed with the knowledge that by advocating for our daughter, I was doing right by her.
I cherish this book almost above any others I've read about disabled children, and encourage any parent who can tolerate and understand the cussing when it comes to their child.
Keep advocating, Jenny! You are appreciated and admired!
 There are better books out there. July 4, 2008
I was intrigued by this book when my son started to develop autistic characteristics. I think when you are faced with a life altering issue, you're forced to find solace, enlightenment and a certain sense of similarity with others. You want to know that there's hope out there. And it's easy to do that with a celebrity. They're celebrities, we're supposed to look up to them to a certain extent. I don't get the appeal. They're just another person, that puts their pants on, one leg at a time, like everyone else. But if they can help others, then it's not entirely a bad thing.
That said, I wasn't really that impressed with this book. It is very one track minded. It seemed to be one big venting session. The swearing doesn't bother me as I tend to have a foul mouth myself when I get going, and if that's how you blow off steam, then have at it. This is just her journey. Some are going to benefit, others aren't, it's that simple. In combination with this book, and her interviews, she seems extremely standoffish in regards to her son and his treatment (which is very different from her early non-serious funny days). Maybe that's as a result of a lot of people taking issue with alternative medicine. I don't know. She seems to have her heart in the right place, fighting for greener vaccines, and realizing your potential to not just take your doctor's word as the end all. Being your own advocate.
This book isn't rocket science. It's simple reading from a comedienne and tv personality. I would have appreciated more of a look at her perception of him prior to that fateful morning.
Bottom line, is there are a lot of really great books out there about other everyday people's experiences that are better put together. Buy a bunch of books, take what works from each and discard the rest. There's no one way of doing things. And you'll find as you go on, that your beliefs change.
Heartbreaking, Hilarious, Honest... July 1, 2008
Ms. McCarthy's "Louder Than Words" is a candid and courageous memoir of her journey with helping her son heal from Autism. Her story was horrifying at times and made me laugh out loud at others; told with honesty and humor, Ms. McCarthy tirelessly advocates for her son's well-being and recovery. As a parent of a son with "mild autism", I have searched extensively for current and progressive information to treat my son, biomedically. Similarly to Ms. McCarthy's experience, we have not received useful guidance from the traditional pediatricians that we have consulted with and I completely understand her frustration. However, I am also grateful to a great number of biomedical researchers, alternative health practitioners, and authors who have made complex but useful information available to the public. I also wish to thank Ms McCarthy for bringing awareness to the product Threelac which, as with her own son, has made a significant difference in our son's digestive health, language, focus, and behavior. Our son is recovering from Autism.
There are many many excellent books on the topics of biomedical treatments, digestive enzymes, vaccine toxicity, gluten and casein free (GF/CF) diets, advocacy, behavioral, sensory, auditory, and traditional therapies for Autism that are well-reviewed on Amazon, so I won't reiterate a huge list here. However, here are a few books that stay on my nightstand: "Say Goodbye to Allergy-Related Autism", by Devi S. Nambudripad; "Changing the Course of Autism: A Scientific Approach for Parents and Physicians", by Bryan Jepson; and "Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies: The Groundbreaking Program for the 4-A Disorders", by Kenneth Bock. The book that prompted us to consult our state's Early Intervention Program (every state has one) when our son was 18 months of age was "The Late Talker: What to Do If Your Child Isn't Talking Yet" by Marilyn C. Agin.
The one book that I wholeheartedly DO NOT RECOMMEND is "The Einstein Syndrome: Bright Children Who Talk Late", by Thomas Sowell, time will tell us about the aptitude of our kids and Sowell's book should not be used as an excuse to delay crucial early intervention.
Excellent book June 29, 2008
I am a proud Mom of an autistic child this book was outstanding. I feel everyone that has an ASD child/adult in their life in any way should read this book to help the child and and the family. Jenny gave so much insight to parents and caretakers everywhere. Most of all she gave hope.
Great Book June 27, 2008
My son has autism and we never considered medicating him. Jenny's book gives alot of great alternative ideas to help.
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