Rating: 
Summary: The "how to" book of treating autism
Review: This was the first book I bought when I learned my child might have autism. It has become my bible. This book clearly describes the steps one should take to treat autism biomedically (with the help of a doctor of course). It offers hope and motivation to parents who are not content with the grim and hopeless prognosis most doctors give their children. This book is not a magic cure-all, treating autism can be a long difficult task but for those unwilling to accept that the autism epidemic is due to better diagnosing or that it is a purely genetic disorder - this book is for you. I also recommend buying "Treating Autism" at the same time for success stories and more information on the biomedical approach. Buying this book was the first step we took in treating our daughter and I am happy to say she has fully recovered!
Rating: 
Summary: Difficult read, too much guilt
Review: While reading this book, I managed to plow through all the technical, impersonal,and rather robotic writing. However, as a mother of an autistic son, I found it quite disturbing to read of all the probable "causes" - whether true or debatable - that may have caused my sons handicap while I was pregnant. If one scrutanizes all the toxins, contaminations, vaccinations (infant), viruses and diets that could lead to autism; surely every mother has reason to feel guilt in exposing their child, whether their infant was born with or without a handicap. I believe this book is well researched and accurate in scientific studies. I know, however, the coldness and lack of humanity in Ms. McCandless' writing should be reserved for term papers and science books. I would suggest for parents that are trying to cope as well as learn about autism, energy is better spent reading books with a more uplifting and inspiring tone instead of this - which left a taste in my mouth of what I did wrong and such a strict regimine of "dealing" with this disorder. This is a hard read if you are a parent of a handicapped child seeking information in a sensitive, uplifting fashion.
Rating:
Summary: MUST HAVE BOOK FOR ANY PARENT OF AN AUTISTIC CHILD!
Review: Written by an MD-grandmother of an autistic child, Children with Starving Brains is an outstanding manual for biomedical intervention to help these sick kids! Dr. McCandless is thorough and stays on the cutting edge of the newest treatments for helping these kids overcome their metabolic/physiological disturbances and their inability to detoxify their own bodies. Dietary interventions, vitamin therapies and detox/chelation therapies....all of which are covered in Dr. McCandless' book, have proven invaluable to thousands of autistic children and their families. Implementation is not easy, but then neither is having an autistic child. Only when these issues are addressed can many of these children benefit from educational interventions and therapies. I wish I'd found Dr. McCandless years ago. My son has benefited immensely from her knowledge and dedication to these kids. GET THIS BOOK, NOW!
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