Healing and Preventing Autism: A Complete Guide [Hardcover]

Jenny McCarthy (Author), Dr. Jerry Kartzinel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 31, 2009

Jenny McCarthy-whose bestselling books Louder Than Words and Mother Warriors told the stories of healing children with autism-teams up with a preeminent autism doctor to write the first book on a remarkably effective treatment.

In 2006, autism became the leading disorder affecting children in the United States. While diagnoses skyrocket and parents struggle to find help, a group of innovative doctors has been pioneering therapies and treatments that are remarkably effective in healing conditions associated with autism. As word spreads about these incredible discoveries- helped in part by Jenny McCarthy's book Louder Than Words- parents are desperate to learn about the biomedical therapies for themselves.

Since early intervention is key to a successful recovery, McCarthy has teamed up with Dr. Jerry Kartzinel, the doctor who successfully treated her son, to write the first book to give parents all the necessary information about biomedical treatment. Beginning with diagnosis, Dr. Kartzinel explains the different therapies that he uses. He shows parents how to make simple changes to their child's environment and diet that can result in marked improvements and are safe and easy to try at home. And finally he explains some of the more advanced therapies that many doctors use today, and the way parents, alongside a qualified medical professional, can determine whether or not such treatments would benefit their child.

For new parents, Dr. Kartzinel provides helpful guidelines on how to best protect their child from developing autism.

Editorial Reviews

Review

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

About the Author

Jenny McCarthy is the New York Times bestselling author of Baby Laughs, Life Laughs, and Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism.

DR. JERRY KARTZINEL is one of the top doctors in the country treating children's medical conditions associated with autism. In addition to his private practice in Florida, he speaks at autism conferences around the country and frequently appears on television and in print.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Adult; 1St Edition edition (March 31, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525951032
• ISBN-13: 978-0525951032
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (93 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #343,672 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jenny McCarthy is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Belly Laughs, Baby Laughs, and Louder Than Words, among others. The former host of MTV's hugely popular dating show Singled Out, McCarthy began her career as a Playboy model, before launching a high-profile comedic television and film career. She has been featured everywhere, from Time magazine to the cover of Rolling Stone; has appeared on virtually every television talk show, from Larry King Live to Howard Stern; and is a frequent guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show. She has also served as a spokesperson for Weight Watchers.

In addition to her work in the world of healing and preventing autism, she is the co-creator, with practicing speech/language pathologist Sarah Clifford Scheflen, of Teach2Talk, a series of DVDs for children.

Born in Chicago, McCarthy currently resides in Los Angeles, California, with her son, Evan. You can follow her on Twitter @JennyMcCarthy.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

105 of 132 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT BOOK FOR TREATMENT!!, April 8, 2009

By 

Choosy ""A mother is not a person to lean... - See all my reviews

This review is from: Healing and Preventing Autism: A Complete Guide (Hardcover)

For those that wonder if this stuff is TRUE or junk science. ok, here is some FACT for you. My child was completely nonverbal from 13 months to 7 years old. At 18 months she got OT and speech therapy an hour a day 3 days a week until she was 5. Still NO words. ST and OT didn't help at all. I worked with her everyday after the therapist left for hours doing EVERYTHING I was showed and more. She stopped getting OT and speech at 5 because of funding. Still having low functioning autism at seven years old and not being able to afford other therapies I decided to try the GF/CF diet w/ a full spectrum enzyme, magnesium w/ Vitamin D, codliver oil, Calcium, GABA and B6 etc and in 4 YES I SAID 4 and ONLY 4 months she went from NO WORDS to 50 well understood words with NO speech, OT or ABA at all. We continued this adding more supplements/ vitamins and now at nine she is speaking in long sentences, answers and asks who, what, when and where questions and has a HUGE vocabulary of wow 2,000 or more words. Reads well and oh did I forget to say she could not be potty trained and was still using pull ups at 7 years and when her speech came in and "tummy" felt better so did her understanding of the potty and was potty trained within 5 months and 6 months she didn't even need a pullup on at night!!! It was getting to the point I seen myself changing her diaper for life. That's how hopeless it felt, but THANK GOD I tried bio. It was the best thing we ever done for her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BUT I will say this. If you do not take out ALL the GF/CF from EVERYTHING. It WILL NOT WORK. You can't go to restaurants, ordering off the menu because of contamination from the Gluten coming out of even a cleaned pan when heated. If you want it to work you MUST go all the way. Make it, take it meals. It's hard for us that isn't really "cooks" so to speak, but if I can learn it anyone can and the reward at the end is priceless!! So for the people that say it's junk science I laugh at you, for I lived it. NO ONE ELSE WAS FIXING HER. Everyday I seen my child get better and now life is better!!!!

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This kind of nonsense is dangerous for children, May 20, 2011

By 

Ryouji_Kaji - See all my reviews

This review is from: Healing and Preventing Autism: A Complete Guide (Mass Market Paperback)

As an autistic adult and someone who works with autistic child this kind of nonsense makes me sad and sick to my stomach. There are some studies that do support some improvement in some autistic individuals when a specific diet (no gluten) is followed. I've tried this myself and had no visible or measurable results. It has however worked for some of the children I've worked with. Chelation therapy is very dangerous and should only be used in cases of heavy metal poisoning under the direct care of a qualified professional. Giving children supplements that are in no way regulated, tested, or FDA approved is dangerous and can put a child at risk.

Testimony after testimony has been given that states in clear black and white that vaccines are in no way linked to autism. This brand of pseudo-science is being propagated by a woman with no medical, scientific, or psychological training. Everyone wants answers as to why autism happened in their family. Everyone wants a bright future where their child is magically cured of their autism. Autism is life changing for everyone who has been touched by it.

The truth is that there is no straight, easy answer and there is no cure. Autism is heartbreaking, painful, and incredibly wonderful all at the same time. Children with autism are not broken and they do not need to be "fixed". These children can and love to be taught. They are the joy of my life. I celebrate and love my autism and the strengths that it has brought me. These kinds of books that blend some scientific fact and a lot of conjecture cheapen the work that I do and marginalize everything I have accomplished for myself as an autistic individual.

28 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Jenny McCarthy is really starting to bug me...., July 13, 2009

By 

Kiwi (Mississauga, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Healing and Preventing Autism: A Complete Guide (Hardcover)

And it's not so much her books, which have all been quite readable, if rather general and not particularly accurate, so much as the "before me there was nothing" attitude which the publishers blurb on this book exemplifies.

The blurb for this book states - "Jenny McCarthy--whose bestselling books Louder Than Words and Mother Warriors told the stories of healing children with autism--teams up with a preeminent autism doctor to write the first book on a remarkably effective treatment."

OK, so what's this FIRST BOOK NONSENSE. This book was published fairly recently. So what about these books then? Is McCarthy suggesting these are not relevant, or is she just unaware... or is it her marketing department at work. Either way, it's annoying and egocentric. Other authors in this field are more than willing to share credit and acknowledgements of others work in the field. All of the below in fact.

Children with Starving Brains: A Medical Treatment Guide for Autism Spectrum Disorder
Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies: The Groundbreaking Program for the 4-A Disorders
Changing the Course of Autism: A Scientific Approach for Parents and Physiciansor
Unraveling the Mystery of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder: A Mother's Story of Research & Recovery

And there's quite a few more. I just used these as examples. Like I said, no real argument about the content, altho as with her book on pregnancy, it's not advice you'd want to follow, more of a light read, but it's the way she promotes herself that annoys me.