Awakening Ashley: Mozart Knocks Autism On its Ear [Paperback]

Sharon Ruben (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 28, 2004

At 18-months, Ashley still didn't talk. When she wouldn't turn around when her name was called, her hearing came into question. She fixated on minute pieces of dirt and only ate a diet of crunchy foods. She wrapped herself up in a thick fog impenetrable to everyone, except for Barney the Dinosaur. She worked puzzles like a kindergartener and was computer savvy before she was two-years-old. Late-night searches on the Internet hinted at a reason. A neurodevelopmental specialist confirmed it. AUTISM' a communication and social interaction disorder' a diagnosis that shook the foundation of a family and shattered a mother's world. Ashley could hear. But she couldn't listen. A therapy to retrain her ears to perceive sound better took her back to the time in the womb' where listening begins. With the help of Mozart, Ashley was awakened! Her brain's desire to communicate was kindled, fostering a connection with her body, her family, and the world around her. Ashley had recovered! But how could Sharon Ruben, a clinical researcher in her own right, convince the skeptics without clinical trial data to prove its effectiveness. She didn't need data. She had Ashley' it was all the proof she needed! "Too many families are devastated and left without hope by a diagnosis of autism. Awakening Ashley restores that hope. This is a story of Sharon Ruben's courage to move beyond the label and her undying efforts to educate and advocate for her daughter's recovery". 'Valerie Dejean, Director, Spectrum Center, Bethesda, Maryland

Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse (April 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595307809
• ISBN-13: 978-0595307807
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,001,135 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eine Kleine Nachtmusik Into the Light, July 6, 2007

By 

BeatleBangs1964 (United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Awakening Ashley: Mozart Knocks Autism On its Ear (Paperback)

Ashley Ruben, the second of 3 daughters was born in 1999. Ashley displayed autistic behaviors from early infancy. She was placid; had low muscle tone; liked only crunchy foods and had difficulty sucking. She had poor oral coordination and literally had trouble understanding what she was hearing. She also suffered from several ear infections as an infant.

Ashley was diagnosed with autism shortly before she turned two. After some disastrous efforts at doing lab work to screen out the possibility of Fragile X Syndrome, Ashley was placed on a rigorous intervention program. Many of the therapies Ashley underwent included a casein/gluten free regimen, which "repaired" her leaky gut; one on one training and Auditory Integration Therapy (AIT) - Tomatis method.

The Tomatis AIT is much more rigorous and takes more time than the AIT program developed by Dr. Berard, who successfully treated Georgiana Thomas in 1976. (Georgiana Thomas' mother, Annabelle Stehli writes of Georgiana's recovery from autism using AIT - Berard and on her web site describes both the Berard and Tomatis methods).

In Ashley's case, the Tomatis approach was to strap earphones to her head and have her "retrain" her inner ears so she could, according to the theory learn to listen and make auditory distinctions. Mozart was played to her because the high frequencies in Mozart's music was "tonally closest to the human voice" and the high frequencies are the sounds people hear in utero, when the brain and audition are developing.

The method is described in detail in this book and readers will soar along on falcon's wings at Ashley's spectacular progress. This is one of the best books I have EVER read. The Tomatis method was plainly a success; Ashley is currently enrolled in classes for the gifted and is a proficient guitarist. Let's hope she plays Beatle songs.

Sharon Ruben, herself a scientist has done scientific research on the Tomatis method and has shared brilliant insights with readers in this remarkable book. She has appeared on SoapNet in 2004 with Ashley; on the Today Show on 5/3/03 and Ashley's story was first introduced to readers at large in the April 2006 "Exceptional Parent Magazine" and the June 2006 issue of "Spectrum Magazine." She has also started a web site with therapeutic teaching tools for children on the spectrum.

The biggest reward of all was seeing and hearing Ashley on these shows. A bright, beautiful and engaging child, Ashley has proven that autism really can be knocked out on its ear! The victory makes me think of Ray Charles' 1961 smash, "Hit the Road, Jack" and in the case of autism "and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more, hit the road, Jack and don't you come back no more!" It also makes me think of George Harrison's 1969 stellar gem, "Here Comes the Sun," the lyrics of which I think are very a propos.

AIT and its success with autism was introduced to the world at large in Sound of a Miracle: A Childs Triumph over Autism .

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book with a lot of helpful info, March 18, 2009

By 

Susan Thomas - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Awakening Ashley: Mozart Knocks Autism On its Ear (Paperback)

This is a very moving book about a mother who will not take no for an answer and searches on her own to find the answers she needs. She fights for her child to make her life better. There is a vast amount of information for other families who have a child who is autistic or special needs. Thank You so Much for writing this book.