Customer Reviews

Awakening Ashley: Mozart Knocks Autism On its Ear

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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 .

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.