Book Review: Louder Than Words by Jenny McCarthy
I liked it. I thought it was well done, easy to read, and quite moving. What I found interesting, though, was that Jenny does NOT claim that her son, Evan, is "cured." She says that diet, nutrition and other interventions probably made it easier for him to respond to behavioral and developmental therapy. She says his evaluator was very impressed with his progress - but that he still flaps, stares at moving fans, and presents other behaviors that are consistent with autism. And here's what she says at the end of her book:
In no way was Evan perfect in the eyes of parents who had typical children. He would still repeat words a few times and flap his arms, but he was no longer stuck in the world of autism.... The healthier he became, the more the therapists were able to teach him.All of this seems very consistent with conversations I've had with researchers who say that up to 19% of children with autism have gastrointestinal issues that interfere with their ability to learn and develop. By treating those issues, it seems that Jenny - like many parents - may have freed her son up to learn, grow and thrive.
The question has been raised by About.com readers as to whether Jenny's son is "truly autistic," since so many of his symptoms improved with biomedical intervention. The answer to that question, in my opinion, is still very much up for grabs. At this point, doctors are diagnosing children with autism based on symptoms, not on medical tests. As a result, it seems likely that many kids with food intolerances, epilepsy, anxiety disorders, and other issues who present with autistic behaviors are receiving an autism diagnosis. Some are receiving multiple diagnoses as well (ADHD and Asperger syndrome, for example). I look forward to the day when doctors are able to distinguish autistic beahviors from behaviors that result from medically treatable issues. But until that day, I think it's reasonable to say that Evan McCarthy was - and probably is - autistic.
Have you read Louder Than Words? Feel free to add your review right here!
Comments
I am a bio-mom, use Dr. Kartzinel, Jenny’s MD as well…and am a mentor for Generation Rescue. I really hate it when people say “Oh well if he lost the diagnoses, then he was never autistic” or something to that effect. Because autism is only a label, placed on a person biased by observation only, a child or adult must meet certain standards to be autistic. As we all know, it’s a very big specturm. Children progress from profound to mild, from mild to “recovered” or ones that loose the dx. It is grossly unfair to judge a child who looses the dx as one that was never autistic to start with. That having been said, Evan is only the tip of the iceberg of childern to go on to loose the dx. Is he still in “recovery” yes, he is. Does Jenny plan to keep fine tuning this bio-medical program and take it deeper…yes she does. Will she keep up a level of intervention with therapies? Yes she will. As do many parents who travel this road. While there are many parents who never read a thing about bio-med for their childern, Jenny has opened the book to at least say “LOOK” see what is out there that you don’t know about yet. Is she bringing awareness to regressive vaccine damaged induced health issues that garner the label autism..you bet. And it is about time! We have already lost a generation of children to this, it’s time we stop the madness. Jenny’s book is from the heart, and very open. When I first heard she was asking bio-med questions..I really thought she was a bit of an air head, but quickly got to know her passion and see that she was willing to listen to GR mentors, ask questions and run with all of this. Today..I consider her an asset for at least the bio-medical camp end the autism diagnosis. Remember before Jenny, Karen Seroussie told the story of her son Miles. Sadly..it has taken almost 10 years for gfcf to get the attention of parents, but Karen broke the ground for Jenny to find help. For me, it’s past time…and just wait until Jenny’s next book comes out… the story is just beginning. MM
I don’t have a child with autism,BUT I was damaged on two occasions by vaccinations. I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1996 after which I was told (not by mainstream medicine) that vaccines are often implicated with the diagnosis of MS. I had had my one and only flu 3 months before the onset of the original 1996 attack. Stupidly in 1999 I was talked into allowing myself to receive a tetanus shot by a GP. That shot agravated my MS to the point of disability! The medical establishment, the CDC and ultimately the Court of
Federal Claims with whom I filed my grivence under the “Vaccine Injury Compensation Program” would not acknowledge or take any responsibility for disabling me. The CDC must keep beating the drum that their “studies” do not find a link between autism and thimerosal. Firstly, their studies are quite biased (remember the fox guarding the henhouse?),flawed and downright corrupt. Secondly, the CDC’s own position is to not “let the sensitive information” become public knowledge as the potential financial implications WILL be devistating.
Find out more by doing a goggle search on vaccine cover up. There is a major movement within the US government and health organizations to suppress the truth. It’s frightning, it’s EVIL and it’s got to be stopped. I’ve been blogging about this for a decade. I’ve written articles and I’ve given talks. I feel like the reinforcements have arrived at long last! God bless Jenny McCarthy for her taking this on! I’m sorry her son is another casualty of the world of greed and corruption disguised as health care providers, but I’ve been waiting 10 years for a celebrity to come forward with the OBVIOUS TRUTH. The CDC does not want to publicly admit the truth. They can’t for fear of the lawsuits.
Jenny, thank you for taking the time to write this! I am also the mother to a 4 year old autistic son, and what a journey… (he’s my little bird). I highly recommend this book to all. It is a passionate journey of a mother who would stop at nothing to help her child. I laughed, I cried, and then left happy that I too had additional resources to help my child without having to pay all of those expenses out of pocket. If you are in the family or extended family of a child with Autism, please read this book.
Jenny,
Wow…thank you soo much for writing this. I’m 8 mo’s pregnant w/ twins and am going to definitely look into vaccinations.
Your fellow South Side Chi-town friend,
Angie
I’m going to go out on a limb here- any parent who admits they ingested their own child’s seizure medication and then states a resemblance to Ozzy is just someone that I cannot trust their judgement or claims. since she doesn’t have seizures, what was she expecting the medication to do to her? there are plenty of good books out there to read, this person to me, appears to be promoting bad choices and could result in parents trying new fads and having expectations that are not realistic. I see nothing in this book that is anything new other than a flaky mom trying to ‘make that buck’ off of parents like me.
This summer, I worked with children who are autistic. Unless you have a child who has autism or are very close to someone who is, you could never possibly understand the people who have such a desparate need to help these children with autism. I feel that any resources possible will help and it’s definite “worth the buck.” Rather you agree with Jenny or not, I can guarantee that if you were trying to help a child with autism, you would try every advice possible, regardless of the source. Her book is very informational, touching, and real. This is a real problem, and it’s obviously getting more and more commong. Thank you, Jenny, for being strong and having faith even when you seemed alone.
“A flaky Mom” said Angie in comment # 5. No, dear, that would be Britney Spears..NOT Jenny MCcarthy! And, Angie, don’t worry bout “going out on a limb”. You have not come close to doing that. All you did was make a snide comment. I doubt you’d go to the lengths this woman has gone to help her son and then SHARE it with the rest of us. I hope she makes a bundle as I read in People Magazine that the “therapy” for her son cost $2,200.00 per week! Oh yes, she’s after you few bucks alright. I don’t know what you didn’t see that was new in this book. She’s actually talking about THE VACCINE CONTROVERSY!! Hello! We don’t get this kind of information on the nightly news. It’s about time somebody stepped forward and challanged the CDC and Big Pharma in mainstream media! Thanks again, Jenny!
Sorry to Angie in comment #4. It is Sandy in comment #5 I was addressing.
no, I would not try any advice given for my child with autism no matter what the source was. that would be foolish since my child is not the same as another and other medical factors would determine what was needed. I also would not base a large decision as such based on one book.
of course you don’t know me to know what lengths I have been through with my child. I doubt if I did share, you’d listen anyway. there is little in her book that is new that I haven’t already read some where else or knew about for years, plus, the book is al about ‘her’ and what she did. not much about her child. this book is also incomparable to the Nightly News, which might be a better source and reach more people. she isn’t challenging the CDC and Big Pharma in mainstream, I’m sorry but she’s out to make a buck. and wouldn’t it be grand if we all could afford that $2,200.00 therapy per week? she has no clue what a real struggle is that the rest of us go through, but thinks we’re all going to buy this book and take away from our own kids therapy expenses? while she’s parading around on a red carpet or a Bunny outfit, where do you think her son is??
and I’m sorry but anyone who takes some one else’s RX medication (which is illegal) is not someone I’d rely on to challenging the CDC or Big Pharma or rely on for what she decided to try as in therapy with her child. one wonders what other meds she’s taken just ‘to see what it was like’.
I am a mother of a 4 year old Autistic boy, and a mother of a 18 month old “typical” (so far) girl.
I will be honest, I’m not done reading the book yet. I have 3 chapters left. However, I have been touched, moved, and motivated by Jenny and her book. Reading her pain, and what she went through with her son, and her husband, showed that she is a person, not just woman in a “Bunny outfit”.
Yes, she does talk about what “she” went though, because its HER writing the book. Its not Evan’s book, its HER book. So she should write about what exactly Evan went through?? How does SHE know how HE exactly feels about everything? There is no possible way she could! So Please explain to me how her book could have been any different?
If I had the resources, and the money. I to would write a book about my experience in regards to my son’s Autism. To try to help bring awareness to this epidemic. I guess then I would be out to “make that buck”. But who’s gonna listen to me?? Is anyone going to care? No! I’m stay at home mother, I’m not a Celebrity, or a politician. People are going to listen to what someone like Oprah, Toni Braxton, or Jenny McCarthy has to say. Because like it or not, most people listen to what celebrities have to say!
I think Jenny has extreme knowledge of what “we” have all gone through. Every families situation is DIFFERENT. Maybe it was financially easier for her, so should we be jealous of a doctor who can afford the best Therapy for his Autistic Child? or a Lawyer who can?? NO! So why are you so jealous of Jenny? Because after reading your posts Sandy, thats exactly how you are coming across to everyone!
Who are you to judge that she has no idea what this struggle is like? She watched her dear boy have Seizures, time after time .. but because she is famous, it must have been easy on her .. right?
Personally, I think Jenny did a great job on the book. And after I am finished reading it, I have allot more research to do. I now realized that there is allot more I can do for my son. I am extremely lucky that he is High Functioning. And with just ABA therapy, and no other intervention. He went from Moderately affected, to high functioning in 11 months.
Amazing book Jenny! Can’t wait to read the next one! : )
you misinterpret jealousy- she put herself in with the rest of us while she was on Oprah, and she clearly is not nor does she face our same daily struggles. many of us do a balancing act with a lacking budget, never get respite services or time to go out on the town- McCarthy knows nothing about that and it’s not at all a jealousy issues, it’s a ‘don’t compare your struggle and situation to mine’. if she wants to fight and make awareness- forget the CDC and lobby the insurance companies. our insurance paid for everything, so I was lucky- any services I thought was needed I was able to do, and we qualified for respite- but I’m aware many do not.
you’re also right- most people listen to what celebrities have to say- so she needs to be careful with what she does says- you don’t tell the world you took your child’s seizure medication and then joke about Ozzy behavior and you don’t go around lying to the public that there are now 36 mandated vaccines- which is a lie to gain attention. there are hundreds of books of personal experiences with autism- I’ve read many of them. that’s what they are, their own personal experiences and a celebrity shouldn’t out rank any other parent’s experience, you think? my son is 8- he has an interesting story and I tell it often. autism goes beyond age 5, it goes beyond age 8. it also goes beyond one persons book who happens to be a celebrity.
Sandy, in comment 5, 9 and 11- Someone wrote a book you didn’t like and you spent $15 bucks on it. Bummer. There are terrible things in life, reading a bad book…isn’t one of them. You can dislike the book without personally attacking the author. I do believe you have never walked in Jenny’s shoes…nor do you have any occasion to be the judge of who does or does not have “daily struggles”. We mourn our own losses and cheer our own victories. Why don’t you try wishing joy and happiness on her and her son instead of judging her. What you put out there…is coming back around my friend.
Why you all cant accept my opinion is beyond me. That’s what life is all about, opinions. Actually this was a review.
A few personally attacked my opinion/ review, stating ” I doubt you’d go to the lengths this woman has gone to help her son and then SHARE it with the rest of us.”
Thats a personal attack.
Sandy, you called Jenny “a flaky mom” in post #5. That, too is a personal attack on her. You can dish it out, but you don’t want to take it.
You post here and you open yourself up for the opinion of others to comment on your comment.
Sandy also said in coment #9, “while she’s parading around on a red carpet or a Bunny outfit, where do you think her son is??”
Wow, if this comment isn’t a personal attack….I’ll eat my hat.
This conversation is becoming very personal – and not especially productive. Please stop!
Lisa
If you do not like my comments, skip over them. Any mom who takes their child’s seizure medication is a flake and not a very good mom, I’d have that opinion of anyone who did that. The consequences could had been devastating medically by taking medication like that. If you don’t agree, I’m perfectly ok with that.
The review was of this book- and who wrote it- not of those who posted their replies here. If Jenny wants to comment to my review, she can. I did not open myself up to opinions here- nor did I disagree with anyone else’s opinions.
The topic was the book, not me.
I simply gave mine and I’m not the only one who shares these opinions, just the one bold enough to share them
I think we’re giving Sandy too much credit by responding to her comments. Perhaps our time could be better spent by giving support to one another. Otherwise, it just seems like a bunch of hot air escaping, which might account for a portion of global warming…or maybe not. Last time I checked this was America we live in, and some people do have the right to be ignored. I’m sure that would be far more irritating than argueing matters of opinion!
I have a son that 7yrs learning that there are far to many children with autism and no one can tell us parents where it comes from.I have had my son in intervention since 3yrs old and he has little progress. so I say someone needs to open our eyes to way to figure out what is causing this sickness. I believe having a child with autism is a hard struggle for all parents that has a child with autism. This awarness may want other celebs to raise money for research so we can get some answers on how to prevent this from happening to future children or how to help the ones that has been diagnosed with autism. I just learned about the book today sharing my experience with someone. I just wanted to view the comments that was made about the book, Once I read the book I will be back
I love what Jenny is doing here… and I am proof that this recovery can happen, and continue. My daughter is now about to be 15–and an amzazing, poised, very smart, social person that no one would ever guess was autistic. Diet changed everything for us, and today she shows only the most minor signs of what was once a totally lost little girl, flapping corner to corner in her own world. If you know Jenny, tell her thanks…and she’s right on target by sharing what is possible.
Jenny,
I finally finished the book and it’s something that i couldn’t put down as i’m not much of a book reader. I was asked so many questions on what i learned new about autism and @ the end of your book you write the right words, it wasn’t about autism it was about faith. And it warmed me more to know that i wasn’t the only one feeling the way i did through the tantrums and wild child days. But now my son is 3 and doing better with the rough days, as his speech still needs work. I apprecaite you writing this book for mothers w/children of autism to read. I’ll also have you know that the book i bought is going on to other family members and friends to read since it’s so inspiring. Again Thanks…
Hi to all,
Personally I will be picking htis book up tomorrow, i have a 2yr 4 mth old grandson, who has been sort of diagnosed with Autism, I beleive they cant really diagnose at this age, anyway i am so unsure of what it is about, and and looking forward to being enlightened. This book will also be passed to members of my family, Jenny certainly wont get much $$ worth out of my purchase but I am sure i will gain so much more. Looking forward to reading tomorrow Jenny thank you.
I am currently a college student studying special eduaction. I picked up Jenny’s book after reading her article in PEOPLE.
I was absolutely touched by this book and have since passed it on to all my housemates! I spend hours trying to inform myself on strategies I can use in a classroom for students with Austism, it was nice to hear a differrent perspective. As a student you don’t hear much from the personal side of this disorder and this story has opened by eyes. I am grateful that Jenny opened her life to us.
this one is simple & nice.h
I am also a college student studying special education. Autism has always interested me from the age of 6 when a family friend was diagnosed. I found Jenny’s book inspiring. She has been criticized for falsely leading parents to believe that diets are the cure but after reading her story I dont believe she sends that message at all. All she does is tell those who are interested that there IS hope. This is what worked for her child and maybe it will work for others…maybe it wont. However if you have a sick kid all you want to do is get them well and will try anything that had even the slighest chance at working. Overall I thought her story was a beautiful one that helped put a personal touch to the often clinical world of autism.
p.s-I dont think any one should be judged for their momentary lapse in judgement espcially an exhausted stressed and desperate mother of an autistic child; but thats just my opinion
I browse and saw you website and I found it very interesting.Thank you for the good work, greetings
i am really interested to know how taking away healthy essential wheat and all important milk in our child won’t hinder growth.
I’ve read the book. It is needed more than you know for those Mothers who will not admit that their child has a problem. Many will read it because it is written by a celebrity. You must understand, people trust the medical profession. We see someone in a white coat and we bow to their authority. Mothers with children of autism (who admit that their child has autism) have stopped bowing. When I took psych classes in college, 20 years ago now, there was this film they showed us about people who were to assist some “professionals in white coats” with an experiment. The “assistants” were told that the “professionals in white coats” were studying how well subjects would learn from negative reinforcement. This negative reinforcement happened to be an electric shock. Now the “assistants” were in the same room with the “professionals in white coats” whereas the subject was unseen in another room, but could be heard by the “assistants” and the “professionals in white coats. The “professionals in white coats” then began questioning the subject on some knowledge he was to have learned. If he answered incorrectly, the “professionals in white coats” told one of the “assistants” to administer a shock. At first the shocks were mild, so that the subject might just be heard to make a surprised gasp. But as the subject made more mistakes the “professionals in white coats” instructed the “assistants” to turn up the power of the shock. The “assistants” would question the safety of this but the “professionals in white coats” insisted it was perfectly fine, no harm done, etc, etc, despite the fact that the screams of the subject could be heard by the “assistants.” Now, what is my point in all of this? You should have guessed by now that the true subjects were the assistants. The previous subject was not harmed in any way but this whole experiment was to see how far people would trust a “professional in a white coat”. I remember watching this and telling myself, “That would never happen to me.” But it has. It has happened to all of us who have trusted a “professional in a white coat”. Afterall, it was my pediatrician who gave my kids their shots. He knows what he is doing, right? No, he doesn’t. I know, because I asked my pediatrician LONG before this had come out in any kind of mainstream media and he knew their was mercury in the shots, but he assured me my son could handle it. That his immune system would remove it. Well, he was wrong and I fell for the “professional in the white coat” and I also took a long time before I would see what was before my eyes.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say Jenny was “lucky” to have a son who had seisures, yet it was so obvious a medical problem that it snapped her out of the denial. I watched my son slowly slide down a hill; so slowly that I had time to forget what he had been like before he had problems.
I also want to say that those who judge Jenny for taking her son’s medicine are locked into a worship of legalism for legalism’s sake. This is her son. He went through cardiac arrest. Most people who go through cardiac arrest, die. He did not because he received immediate medical attention. Yes, it was from those “professionals in white coats”. We do have some very good reasons to trust them. But not against what our own eyes and ears and head and heart are telling us. This book is a wake-up call.
Another comment, if I may. I really don’t like the name, label, whatever you want to call it of autism, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), etc. This needs to be called what it is. It is a poisoning. You examine case studies of children who have undergone mercury poisoning, and you get the exact same symtoms. Such a write up is in the book, “Children with Starving Brains”.
Even the author of over a century ago who wrote “Alice in Wonderland” recognized the symptoms. It was called mad-hatter disease as hatters worked with mercury in the making of hats.
And, if I may, I will answer the last post’s question. Wheat and milk are no longer food for your child. Whatever nutritional value they once had for your child is nullified when compared to the harm they now present. Supplements are needed for the loss of B vitamins and Calcium. A good book to read is the one I previously mentioned. It has information on supplementation.
Sandy, your an idiot.
I started reading this book after I put the kids to bed and could not put it down. I literally read it cover to cover. I have a developmentally delayed 5 year old son. Although, my sons diagnosis is diffrent this book really touched me and made me think about what I am doing to help my son. I think Jenny is a very brave person, and I admire her will as a mother to do everything in her power to make sure her child has every chance to be the best he can be. Evan is a very lucky little boy, and I also think that he is a blessing to her, just as my son is a blessing to me.
I began reading the reviews to determine if I should purchase this book but the reviews turned into a tennis match of critism about the person making the comment and not the book. Sandy has the right to express her opinion and simply because you liked the book and she didn’t, doesn’t make her wrong. It’s exactly what it is– AN OPINION. Thanks for waisting our time by adding irrelevant and inappropriate comments. The webmasters should have some control over what gets posted. Thanks to all of you that can’t handle a difference in opinion– I have lost interest in wanting to read this book.
Well, I haven’t read the book, (yet) and yes, up-front I am a little skeptical anytime I see a celeb take on a childhood issue, and then make some money off it.
Point is that we have a newly diagnosed 4 yr old boy, and (1) we are destroyed by the news and (2) not real trusting of the diagnosis and (3) my wife is in total denial
Jenny’s claim of such huge success is drawing us in like a moth to a flame, so really, we’re spending the 15 bucks. It’s alot cheaper than the plan director, therapist, and speech path we are contracting right now.
The (reportedly) avg cost to families with exceptional children in North America is 30k per year. That’s the working class figure. You really can’t count the celebs in on that because obviously, they can and will pay far more than that. The other obvious is they have the best chance at a good prognosis considering the high level of therapy they can afford.
Funny thing is that I did see a change in our son shortly after he was given 2 vax in one visit. That was around age 2. The other strange thing is that his ped (he was a preemie) did some wierd thing to him with meds when he was just released from hospital that had a drastic impact on his gastro-intestinal functions.
Recently, (about 2 months ago) I decided that we should take him off milk for a week to see what effect it would have. WOW!!! His focus started to improve, he would actually look at me….eye to eye!!!!
Then, we implemented a “relaxed” and slower home life to try and understimulate him….again WOW!!!!
Then…we made a very small learning room for him, with no distractions, and a few ABA tools we picked up from a “Takes 2 to Talk” program….again…WOW!!!!
In the past 3 weeks, he is talking….sentences….making verbal choices…..asking for things…..
Am I going to read her book….absolutely.
Am I going to submit our little boy to something potentially dangerous….never!!
The point is, since there is no blood test for Autism, and it’s apparently all about the behaviors being on the spectrum, we’re trying to find effective healthy ways of working on every behavior that presents.
This is HARD WORK, but the reward is more than you can imagine. Our little boy is starting to come home!
We wish you all the best prognosis possible for your exceptional kids!
My sister had Jake in 1994… he was diagnosed with ‘Downs Syndrome’ @ 5 wks. She KNEW @ 1 week that there was something wrong. On his 1st b’day he showed no symptoms of ‘autism’ but was later diagnosed with “late-onset autism’…. devistating for the whole family. Have any of you read the poem “The Special Mother” which tells how ‘God’ divvy’s up ‘Special’ children to ‘just’ the right mothers… It breaks my heart every time I read it. I would LOVE to wake my nephew’s “sleeping mind”… My sis suffers in silence & would never change her boy….. She has “2″ disabilities to deal with & oh by he way NO husband… he couldn’t cope. Jakes big bro is 17yo & is hard work for im also!!! Everyone carries some sort of burdon…. Nobody is alone.
I am a father of a 5 year old boy with autism, until last year he did not spoke a word an was very frustrating, now he is on a mainstream school and is developing very well with the right support he as progressed so much. We are very thankful to God first because he gave us this special boy and to the people who work with him because they are great. About the vaccine controversy I don’t regret have given the MMR vaccine to my son, because now I am sure he cannot die of one of the diseases and I am better off dealing with his autism then with his dead.
i feel very sorry for parents who are on denial about their child diagnose because as soon as you start receiving de right professional medical support the better!