Let Me Hear Your Voice: A Family's Triumph over Autism [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

This was a very interesting account of how one woman traveled down a very bumpy Long & Winding Road with two children on the autism spectrum. Her children made great strides with ABA, Applied Behavioral Analysis. It was through the diligent efforts of the ABA therapist that the children were able to learn to identify words; identify sensory perceptions and verbalize the experience.

One thing that bothered me was the heavy handed use of the word "perseverate." That is a truly harmful and judgmental word that has hurt many; helped none and is best avoided. The terms "special interest," "repetitive verbalizations/behaviors" are far preferable and much more accurate. The overusage of this damning, negative and destructive word cost this book one star. It is a word best avoided. The deleterious affect this word has is addressed in Annabel Stehli's book, "The Sound of Falling Snow: Stories of Recovery From Autism & Related Conditions."

One thing that I tip my hat to Catherine Maurice for was exposing the fraudulent claims made in re holding therapy. The very name of this quack nostrum makes me want to run for cover! Maurice actually met with Margaret G. Welch, the founder of this nostrum and was initially a Welchian follower. Over time, she saw that holding therapy was questionable and harmful. Welch's book "Holding Time," as well as Bettelheim's "Empty Fortress" and Elisabeth & Nikolaas Tinbergen's atrocious works on autism are the worst books I have EVER read!

Welch had her view films of "holdings," wherein the children filmed were either a) not autistic or b) displaying the adverse response to being restrained. I also didn't like the way Dr. Welch would tell parents to yell at their children; level accusations at them and then follow up with hugs. Welch actually advocates that people LICK their children, much as dogs do their pups. That made me queasy. To date, I have never heard of anybody with autism licking anybody!

For people with autism, particularly severe autism, decoding expressions is difficult and trying to interpret conflicting behaviors had to be confusing. Many of these young clients were non-verbal preschoolers! I was queasy when I read of how Welch had people hollering at their children and blaming the parents for "not resolving issues" with the children and that forcing the children to endure hugs would "cure" them. Horse feathers!

Donna Williams, an illustrious author with autism says of Welch's method that it "teaches people to give the desired response" so as to be freed from something dreadful. Lise Pyle wrote of her son John in "Hitchhiking Through Asperger's Syndrome" that "hugs are to be endured, not enjoyed by John." John is given the respect he deserves instead of being subjected to this ignominious treatment.

I was thoroughly disgusted with Dr. Welch for saying to Maurice's daughter, "lonely Anne-Marie," "sad/angry Anne-Marie," and trying to plant anger in Maurice's mind towards her then pre-school, nonverbal daughter. I cringed when I read of how Maurice practiced this "holding" at the home; I was ready to run like a deer at the thought of the child being forced to endure this. Anne-Marie naturally did not like it and I was delighted when Maurice jumped Welch's ship and resumed ABA, which worked quite well with her children. In time, they were moved off the a/A spectrum and Welch had NOTHING to do with their progress. It was upsetting to think of the number of good people who were snowed by Welch's methods and claims.

Autism, as has been pointed out IS a spectrum condition. It is a neurobiological condition that affects sensory processing and communciation to varying degrees. It has nothing to do with resolution of any kind; it is simply neurobiological. It is also EXTREMELY counterproductive to blame parents. Nobody would make their child autistic! There is NO scientific data or proof to back Welch's claims. To add further insult to further injury, Welch cites Nikolaas Tinbergen, who was an ornithologist. Tinbergen's execrable works in re autism is just a rehashing of Welch, although his work predates hers. The bottom line is they say enforced hugging is a panacea for autism; blame mothers; claim autism is psychological, which is a fallacy. If enforced hugging was a cure, then everybody would be doing it and nobody would have autism! It is just an emotional elixir that satisfies the hugger at the expense of the autistic population. Tinbergen was an ornithologist, not an expert on autism! His work, together with Bettelheim, a notorious fraud and Welch's fallacious claims are among the worst and most misleading in autism literature.

As a survivor of enforced hugging, which I abhor, I can tell you all it did was sour me on hugs. I think it is so cruel to take what is purportedly a loving act and convert it into a self serving punishment. I knew a boy who was put through the Welchian method; hated it and it backfired big time. The boy would cry piteously, "no more hug! Hate hug!" and beg not to be sent there "to be yelled at when you aren't bad." Now nearly an adult, he will say, "I'm still autistic. I still like WWII jeeps and planes and I still hate hugs." Prior to the Welchian method, the boy stoically endured hugs. To this day, he will flee them. That was very unfortunate, but not surprising.

ABA on the other hand, recognizes autism for what it is - a neurological condition that affects behavior. ABA focuses on teaching cause-effect and linkage, e.g. linking words to a feeling or an object. ABA also teaches clients to focus directly on the issue at hand, e.g. someone talking to them and to tune out extraneous stimuli.

Since a/A is a spectrum, there will be overlapping behaviors and sensory issues. Not all people with autism think in pictures; are adverse to being touched; are nonverbal or suffer from the more extreme form, Kanner's Autism.

I recommend that ALL parents of children with autism as well as adults with autism to give ABA a try. Floor time is another good method that encourages direct contact and fun as well as focusing on relevant stimuli. "The Boy Who Loved Windows" is an excellent book about how a child was eased off the a/A spectrum by use of floor time.

Because of this book, I garnered the strength to look into educational intervention for my first autistic son in the way of a "home program". I didn't know anything about what a "home program" entailed until I read this book. I didn't know that the optimal time you must devote to a program such as this has been set at 40 hours a week! I didn't know that there wouldn't be any trained therapists available--I had to be trained myself, in fact! I found babysitters, one high school girl, you name it--at one point I was so desparate I dissolved in tears and said, "I CAN'T DO THIS! " But you have to. YOU JUST HAVE TO. And you will, too, because you must.

As my supervisor said to me when she "okayed" us for the program, "Look at it this way--two years of your life will make such a difference." And it did. Not the sucess story the author had, but at least a sense of control over things and an awareness of my son's potential.

This book gave me something to hang on to. I realize now, especially after having a second autistic son, that not all things go as planned, and not all "programs" turn out as ideally as Maurice's did. On the other hand, you must have hope when you are an autistic parent. This book gave me that. And it gave me an understanding of an invaluable way of teaching young autistic children that is still the primary way they are taught most sucessfully (it is called Applied Behavioral Analysis now)that I needed, just to get started in the right direction. Buy it and read it. Use your brain when you read it and accept the fact that all these kids are different and you are not this woman. But be thankful. She wrote THE GROUNDBREAKING BOOK on this type of intervention.

best wishes, Jean