Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism [Hardcover]

Jenny McCarthy (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 17, 2007

On the morning Jenny McCarthy discovered her two-year-old son Evan having a seizure, her life turned upside down. From being the mother of an average toddler she was suddenly thrown into a world of turmoil. As doctor after doctor misdiagnosed his symptoms, Evan suffered many harrowing, life-threatening episodes. Then, one amazing doctor recognized the truth. Evan was autistic. Desperate, but relieved to finally have a diagnosis, Jenny didn't know what to do or where to go for guidance. Alone, and without any resources - except for her unshakable determination to help her son - Jenny soon realized that she'd have to become a detective if she was ever going to be able to help her son.She embarked on a frantic search for guidance and information, and spoke with many doctors, nurses, parents, government agencies and private foundations. Essentially, she earned a Ph. D. in 'Google research'. Eventually, she discovered the groundbreaking program that became the key to helping Evan. Deeply moving, and at times heartbreaking, in "Louder Than Words" Jenny McCarthy reveals more than the winning formula that worked for her son. Here she tells of the remarkable, sometimes harrowing, journey of discovery they took together. She shares the frustrations and joys of raising an autistic child and creates a road map for concerned parents. She also shows how, with love and determination, parents may be able to shape their child's destiny and their future happiness.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Jenny McCarthy takes us on journey of a mom dealing with her son’s Autism diagnosis and treatment. We learn what it is like to be a parent and have your dreams shattered. We learn about a disease and about how others dealing with similar circumstances can aid one another. We learn about alternative approaches that seem promising. We learn about healing, hope, and faith."
—David Feinberg, from the foreword, MD, MBA
Medical Director, Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA

“Jenny has done an incredible job retelling the story of Evan, who also was forced to make the perilous journey through Autism. Autism is not a dead end diagnosis. It is the beginning of a journey into faith, hope, love, and recovery.”
—Jerry J. Kartzinel, from the introduction, MD FAAP --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Jenny McCarthy takes us on journey of a mom dealing with her son’s Autism diagnosis and treatment. We learn what it is like to be a parent and have your dreams shattered. We learn about a disease and about how others dealing with similar circumstances can aid one another. We learn about alternative approaches that seem promising. We learn about healing, hope, and faith."
—David Feinberg, from the foreword, MD, MBA
Medical Director, Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA

“Jenny has done an incredible job retelling the story of Evan, who also was forced to make the perilous journey through Autism. Autism is not a dead end diagnosis. It is the beginning of a journey into faith, hope, love, and recovery.”
—Jerry J. Kartzinel, from the introduction, MD FAAP --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Adult; 1 edition (September 17, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9780525950110
• ISBN-13: 978-0525950110
• ASIN: 0525950117
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (354 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #582,168 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.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

82 of 96 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars There are better books from a parents' perspective November 23, 2007

By H. Michaelsen

Format:Hardcover

I too have a child who has autism and I was disappointed in Jenny's book. If you can get past the swearing (I'm not sure why she has to cheapen her experience with expletives), she definitely writes from her heart. However, as a non-celeb mom trying to find ways to deal with autism and not go bankrupt in the process, I had a hard time identifying with Jenny's journey since she seems to have a lot of money to put towards her son's treatment, and other help like nannies and cleaning ladies and such. Further, Jenny did seem to find a treatment that worked for her son, but I feel that all kids on the spectrum are so different and respond differently to the various treatments out there. She seems to advocate that this is "the only way". I think there are better books out there from a parent dealing with autism. Look at Susan Senator's Making Peace with Autism for starters. I appreciate the awareness Jenny has brought to autism with her TV appearances, but sadly, I thought her book was a little disappointing.

41 of 47 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Devastatingly Disappointing September 24, 2008

By J.C.

Format:Paperback

I am so deeply disappointed by this book that I feel ill. I had purchased the book as a gift for my Mother's birthday hoping she would find comfort in it's pages. My youngest brother was diagnosed with Autism nearly 2 decades ago when very little was known about the disorder. My other brother was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome in the last few years. I was excited at the thought of her finding solace in a good book, unfortunately it will not be found in this one.

I read Jenny's Belly Laughs book even before I was expecting and recommended it to many others. I enjoyed her humor and perspective, how candid she was about her pregnancy. I had hoped that Ms. McCarthy would have brought that same humor and enlightenment to her new circumstances. I have been her cheerleader and called friends when I knew she would be on a talk show. I wanted everyone to hear what she said. I was grateful she was so open and willing to talk about Autism. I couldn't wait to read and share her book. What I found was fact covered in a pile of vulgarity, profanity, tantrums, and narcissism. I was continually amazed at how poorly she treated others from her husband to hospital staff. Even her own father couldn't stay with her because he was blind in one eye (he still had another eye how much could he hinder her!) and she couldn't handle 2 special needs people in her house at that time.

I am thrilled that Ms. McCarthy was able provide the desperately needed services for her son. For those of us in reality we will never have the ability to purchase or muscle our way into the places that can help 'cure' our Autistic loved ones. For those of us not able to (I hate to say it) exploit our loved ones struggles into book deals (she repeatedly wrote about how she had to do what she needed to get another book deal to support the family, um would that be this book?) There are so many other good books out there that offer help and support without the profanity (I can not count how many F words she used!!!), and vulgarity. We need to educate ourselves and others. We need to change the thinking of our mainstream medical practitioners. We need to make copies of the reports and literature that has formed our opinions and beliefs and give them to our friends and doctors so they too can make educated, informed decisions. Please, please do not by this book. Go to a DAN conference or join a support group with other humans who will love and support you. I am grateful everyday for my brothers. I would not change them. It breaks my heart that we could not provide more for my brothers, but we did what we could. I feel this book would only add to my Mother's and many others heart ache.

121 of 147 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars I suppose it's OK... October 27, 2007

By Reggie Dunlop

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

You can summarize most of the book by "Mommy Instinct" and "Google University".

As a person with a Masters in Biochemistry, it pains me that surfing around on Google now qualifies as "research" worthy of printing in a book. I'm sure the true autism scientists who get up every day painstakingly working toward some answers, must cringe that Jenny McCarthy is now their spokeswoman. I suppose any press is good press, and with media coverage comes grant money... so perhaps Jenny may be helping them out somehow.

As a person who is a now a physician, I think Jenny should understand that the doctors she bashes for the first 50 pages of the book did not go to medical school, and work 90 hours a week during their residency, and incur huge debt, just to come to work and give her bad advice. Doctors are human, and actually do care (especially the new ones), yet they must handle situations as they are taught. True, the outcome (or lack thereof) might be frustrating for a parent... but I wish she would accept that the people at the time were likely trying to do their best... and doctors are not God... they sometimes do not know all the answers for a situation that falls outside of the norm.

As a parent of a four year old with autism, I do feel that Jenny accurately conveyed the joys, frustration, fear, tears, more frustration, confusion, and even more frustration that is associated with a parent's discovery and subsequent acceptance that their child has autism. Herein I think is the value of this book. It may give some insight to friends and families of those with autistic children... what goes on in our homes when we are alone. Her best line was to the effect of... "please offer to babysit for these parents so they can go out to dinner."

I wonder if Jenny could appreciate the challenge facing other parents with autistic children, who cannot afford a nanny to help out, who cannot afford intensive therapy, who may have been kicked off their medical insurance plans. Now that would be an interesting follow-up book.

Gluten-free diets. There is no scientific proof yet that these diets help for certain. I think that if your child has obvious GI problems then it is worth a try... however there are also legitimate businesses capitalizing off Jenny's PR campaign who charge $1500 to evaluate a child and then prescribe the same diet to every child. If that child makes gains over the 1-2 year monitoring period... was it the intensive therapy... or classroom instruction... or the diet... or just the passage of time... that caused the improvement?

OVERALL: Its a decent read. Took me four hours. Rather than buy it, go borrow it from a friend and donate $20 to an autism society instead.