Rating: 
Summary: Powerful
Review: It's been four years since I read Let Me Hear Your Voice for the first time. I continue to marvel at the ability of the author to put into words those early feelings I had upon the diagnosis of my child. The author gives intense personal detail of her coming to the acceptance of her little girl's autism. I wept through the first few chapters. It was as if she were writing my experience. This book is a must read for all parents. It's most important underlying message of science in autism treatment is so important. As a parent, I want what is best for my child. It's so easy to get caught up in the "feel good" or "miracle herb" therapy of the month. The author's painfully honest admission of her participation in one of them is to her credit. It helps me forgive myself for the unproven therapies I was tempted to or did try. The story is about the author's journey from the diagnosis to recovery of two of her children with autism. I don't think it was possible for this author to give any more of herself in this writing. She openly exposes herself and her family to the world. I recently heard at a conference that this book has begun a "quiet revolution" among families of children with autism. The revolt being a demand for quality scientifically proven results from proposed therapies. I'm unable to think of a greater tribute than that.
Rating:
Summary: Recently Reread
Review: Recently I reread this book and felt anew the desperation of not knowing how to help my two sons learn . Today the process of breaking down skills and reinforcing, of redierction and repetition is second nature.Because of this book I know first hand the power of well-developed behavioral skills and the joy success brings to my children. Let Me Hear Your Voice became my stepping stone to applied behavior analysis and scientifically verified treatments for autism.
Rating:
Summary: A Courageous Guidepost
Review: As a mother of a 9 year old child who has recovered from autism through the use of applied behavior analysis, I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Catherine Maurice and her colleagues, who have courageously exposed the sad history of autism treatments, and who have guided those who have followed with the calm light of reason and compassion. It is discouraging that some people refuse to believe scientifically derived results, and instead cling to the notion that autism is permanent, a state of being, an unrecoverable condition. They portray attempts at remediating the devasting effects of autism as child abuse. If the diagnosis were schizophrenia or depression or diabetes or cancer, this debate would not even take place. I can empahatically state that no mother has ever loved her child as completely and unconditionally as I have. But that did not stop me from helping my child reach his potential using best practices for teaching, as demonstrated by many, many researchers. To have done otherwise is in my opinion the ultimate form of child abuse, namely, denying my son his potential. I find it amusing that some people claim to love their child as is, yet in the same paragraph, speak of working with him everyday. Hypocritical, no? I worked with my son every day as well. The difference is, I used methods that were scientifically validated for effectiveness, instead of quackery. My son attends second grade, plays baseball and soccer, rides bikes, plays and converses with his friends completely appropriately, converses with others readily, expresses his own ideas, desires, frustrations easily and fluently, and is free from the debilitating effects that are symptomatic of autism. If that isn't recovery, what is? If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck and quacks like a duck and eats like a duck and plays like a duck and sleeps like a duck and smells like a duck and thinks like a duck, then guess what? Without "Let Me Hear Your Voice", and its companion book, "Behavioral Treatment for Young Children with Autism" I would not have learned about ABA in time to help my child. He would have been yet another victim of idealogues who somehow, in their own illogical way, think they are "protecting" children by denying them access to effective medical and educational services. To those who claim to support "options" in autism treatment, I say, I am all for options. Effective options. To those who think that it is amoral to treat autism, that we should accept our children as is, I say, that is absurd. When children are born, we have a responsiblity to nurture them, to love them, to teach them. Why should we discriminate against our autistic children, and offer them less? Thank God we have rational, intelligent people such as Catherine Maurice and Association for Science in Autism Treatment speaking out, exposing the truth, and guiding public policy, to the benefit of all persons with autism.
Rating: 
Summary: A frightening and unrealistic book.
Review: I was very offended and concerned with the nature of this book. The author seemed to be on a mission to "drag" her children from autism, as she said. Autism is no picnic, as I know...I have a 4-year-old son with autism, and I work with him every day. I am so worried that others will read this book and it will continue to perpetuate the belief that autism can be cured. As a mother and a physician, I know that it CAN be managed. A family, and the world can learn so much from an autistic child. My son has beautiful gifts and talents, and we embrace him for who he is. We work in earnest on his behalf. Finally, readers should be warned that this book strongly advocates, even pushes, the Lovaas method. Lovaas is not a method for most people to consider, because of it's requirements. Lovaas greatly disrupts a family, and a marriage. There are SO many wonderful options for autistic children, and if you are looking for an honest discussion of autism, and living with autism, and managing it while retaining your own identity, your marriage and a healthy family life, I suggest you search for additional books.
Rating:
Summary: The best autobiographical book on autism available today.
Review: Catherine Maurice does for children with autism what Marie Killallea did for children with cerebral palsy decades ago: She teaches us that these kids can be treated, and she tells how they should be treated. Thanks to this book, more and more parents will seek and demand effective help for their autistic children.
Rating:
Summary: The most accurate view of autism, the family and child.
Review: This book is an ideal reading material for any person who hopes to enter the field of education. Not only does this book explain the struggles the family and children have to overcome, it uses terminology that educators, especially special education teachers should be familiar with. A underclassman could become fairly knowledgeable in methods of diminishing undesireable behaviors, the roots of how Autism has been viewed by professional, and so much more... The book is excellent and I'm very glad that we were required to read it in college. My only wish, is that I would have read the book earlier.
Rating:
Summary: The light
Review: A friend who has a son w/Autism gave me this book shortly after our three year old son was diagnosed Spring of 97. We had a home program in place by June to supplement a full day special ed program. He is doing fantastically well. He has been mainstreamed and will be attending a regular pre-school this September. I can't thank Ms. Maurice enough for writing this book and sharing her experience. I don't know what the future will hold, but this book got us started on the road to taking charge of the situation. By the way our doctor who is a very good and nice doctor, told us when he diagnosed our son that we will be very vulnerable to all kinds of panaceas. These treatments are very expensive and there are no evidence that it helps. Luckily, we didn't listen to him. At the most recent doctor's visit, he could not detect any PDD symptoms. Medical professionals should not try to protect parents from expensive treatments that may or may not help. Let us make the decisions. We would do hock the house to get him therapy.
Rating:
Summary: A MUST READ if you've heard, "Your child has autism".
Review: As a professional working with preschoolers who have been labeled autistic, I approached this book with much skepticism. In the end, it has really turned my thinking and future therapeutic approach around. Though my current program assimilates much of what is stated in this book, the 24 hour consisitencey and the total surroundings for success have become even more important in my emphasis now. I work as a speech therapist in a public school. I will be recommending this book not only to parents but administrators and teachers as well. Catherine Maurice does a beautiful job bringing her family through this ordeal,and just as beautiful a job in sharing it with the rest of us. It's easy fast reading where you will laugh and cry along with the Maurice family.
Rating:
Summary: overwhelmed
Review: one word for this book: AWESOME. this is all new to me and this book made me believe that there is hope for my 3 year old daughter. i'am a big believer in the behavioral therapy and your story ms. maurice is so much like our lives that it has made me believe that recovery is within our reach. thank you for showing me there is a light at the end of our dark tunnel.
Rating:
Summary: informative and a source of hope
Review: I wish this was the first book I'd read about autism. Beautifully written, informative, inspiring. I cannot give it high enough praise. The only criticism I can think of is quite mild--Maurice seems a bit opinionated toward the "play therapy" psychologists, unfairly lumping a lot of people together with Martha Welch. Perhaps times have changed since she had her defining experiences, or perhaps professionals in my part of the country are more eclectic than those in New York. I hope that her attitude toward professionals is no longer well deserved, though I must admit that **very few professionals, even those supposedly leading the field of autism, are likely to give parents all the information that they desperately need**. At least, that has been my experience after dealing with at least 6 professionals, two of whom are supposed to be leading experts in my state, another that was highly recommended by our preschool. Unfortunately, parents cannot afford to sit back and let the professionals handle their autistic child. They must emulate Catherine Maurice's struggle to master a field of research and a set of techniques for treatment. This book contains valuable ammunition for that fight. Again, I highly recommend this book, as a necessity to any parent of a child with a pervasive development disorder.
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