The Sound of a Miracle

by Annabel Stehli

Book Overview

Details a child's journey from autistic and functionally retarded to gifted, resulting in validation of auditory training.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385411405
• ISBN13: 9780385411400
• Release Date: December 1990
• Publisher: Doubleday Books
• Length: 226 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.4" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

Miracles Resound!

Georgiana (Georgie) was born on May 24, 1965. She made all developmental milestones within normal limits as did her older sister, Dotsy. Speech was the only major milestone that Georgie did not make during her early years. She was nonverbal until she was 4.Georgie's mother had many overwhelming issues - a divorce when the girls were quite small; Georgie's aversion for any sound, music included and Dotsy's being diagnosed with leukemia at age 4.Annabelle naturally has Georgie tested and sent to early intervention programs. The only place where Georgie appeared to have thrived was at Bellevue Hospital because, as Georgie explained years later, "it was quiet there." Dotsy's health plummets and she dies at the age of 8 in 1971. Georgie, then 6, was sent to a residential facility identified as "Childville."Childville sounds like a genuine Chamber of Horrors. Georgie complains about the noise and staff dismiss her complaints. She is overmedicated and complains about how the medicines make her feel. She becomes hostile and displays aggression because she cannot tolerate noise. A social worker who sounded cruel and incompetent from the telling, identified as "Judith" seems determined to block and undermine any and all progress on Georgie's part. When Georgie shows an unusual balancing ability and begs for a skateboard, Judith refuses, telling Georgie's mother that Georgie is "overcompensating a fear." Fortunately Georgie gets her skateboard and is quite proficient on it.Georgie is fortunate enough to have summers free of that institutional wasteland. Luckily for all, Annabelle marries Peter, a gentle, loving man. That union produces a brother and later a sister for Georgie. Peter has grown daughters from a previous marriage and it is in this loving, blended, extended family that Georgie blossoms.Annabelle decides that Childville is just not the answer and withdraws Georgie in 1976. Peter had accepted a job in Switzerland, and naturally Georgie wanted to join her family. Childville staff threaten to keep Georgie by refusing to release her (how could this legally be done). Judith invokes just about every Freudian cliche possible to block Georgie's withdrawal from Childville. Fortunately, Peter and Annabelle withdraw Georgie and move to Switzerland. The medications are discontinued and for the next several years Georgie flourishes in Switzerland. She learns to ski, is mainstreamed and explains that her aversion for sound is due to having a heightened auditory sense. Luckily, she has been treated by several very humane doctors specially trained in Auditory Integration Therapy (AIT) and this treatment is continued during her years abroad. One can't help but cheer when Georgie dances in the rain, explaining that the rain "doesn't sound like a machine gun anymore." Georgie said AIT literally saved her life.After several years abroad, the family returns to the United States. Georgie's records "mysteriously vanish" because the cruise ship she was on met with a di

I felt connected with the author!

When you are the parent of a child with Autism, it's difficult to make people understand what is going on with that child. Friends and family, although well meaning, just can't possibly understand the big picture! Reading her book was like having my own private support group. As I read of her self-doubt as a parent and later realizing that her parenting had nothing to do with Georgie's issues, I cheered for her. I thought "Yes, I'm not the only one who has felt this way"!The sections focusing on Georgie's successful treatment with AIT also gave me some hope for the future with my own child, as her symptoms are eerily similar to Georgie's.A "must read" for parents and caregivers!

MIRACLES RESOUND!

Georgiana (Georgie) was born May 24, 1965. She made all developmental milestones within normal limits, as did her older sister, Dotsy. Speech was the major milestone that Georgiana did not make during her early years. Georgie's mother had many overwhelming issues -- Georgie's unusual aversion for any type of sound, music included and Dotsy's being diagnosed with leukemia in 1967 when she was 4. Annabelle naturally has Georgie tested and sent to early intervention programs. The only place where Georgie appeared to thrive was at Bellevue Hospital because, as Georgie herself said many years later, "it was quiet there." Dotsy's health deteriorates and she dies at the age of 8 in 1971. Georgie, then 6, is sent to a residential facility identified only as "Childville." "Childville" sounds like a genuine Chamber of Horrors. Georgie complains about the noise and staff dismiss her complaints. She is overmedicated and complains that the medicines make her feel funny. She becomes hostile and acts out because she cannot stand any type of sound. A rather incompetent social worker identified as "Judith" seems determined to block and undermine any and all progress on Georgie's part. When the girl shows an unusual balancing ability and begs for a skateboard, Judith refuses, telling Georgie's mother that Georgie is "overcompensating a fear." Fortunately, Georgie gets her skateboard and is quite proficient on it. Georgie is fortunate enough to have summers free of that institutional wasteland. Luckily for all, Annabelle marries Peter and that union produces a natural brother and later a sister for Georgie. Peter has some grown daughters from a previous marriage and it is in this loving, extended family that Georgie blossoms. Annabelle decides that Childville is not the answer and withdraws Georgie when the girl was 11. Peter had accepted a job in Switzerland, and naturally Georgie wanted to join her family. Judith tries to keep Annabelle and Peter from withdrawing Georgie, invoking the name of and cliches from Freud. Fortunately, Annabelle withdraws Georgie, discontinues the medications and for the next several years, Georgie flourishes in Switzerland. She learns to ski, is mainstreamed and explains her aversion to sound. Luckily, she has been treated by several very humane doctors specially trained in AIT (Auditory Integration Therapy) and this treatment is continued during her years abroad. One can't help but cheer when Georgie dances in the rain, explaining that the rain "doesn't sound like a machine gun anymore." An interesting expression that Annabelle coined is "hig," meaning "hostile inadvertent gesture." One can't help wondering why it isn't "hostile INTENTIONAL gesture" because Georgie would sometimes deliberately inflict physical pain on people who had crossed her. Annabelle devised the acronym "hig" to subtly call Georgie on her behavior in these instances. After several years abro

uplifting true story of triumph over adverse life situations

I found this book to be one which inspired me and helped me realize there's always a reason to keep trying. As the parent of an autistic child, I really needed to know there were others who had it worse than me, and that they were having success living positive lives. The story of the author's life is quite amazing. Annabelle's struggles were real, and as such, we have much to learn from her and her daughter's experiences, if only to know that there is hope. This book also gave me much needed information on how some autistic children perceive situations around them, as well as their feelings about what is happening to them. I am better able to understand my daughter for knowing what Annabelle's daughter was able to tell us, due to her success with AIT.

a good "parent's account" from a different perspective

This is a very comprehensive family account from early years up to college, her sister's death, through her mother's divorce & remarriage, the birth of a younger brother & how autism affected her familial relationships. The AIT treatment she received is still being debated somewhat but, as the parent of a son who received AIT twice, I do not consider it a 'cure'. It is ideal, however, for autistic children who have extreme aural sensitivities. Despite the claim of a 'cure' (much like Catherine Maurice & ABA), this book defines Auditory Integration Therapy & explores a facet of sensory processing difficulties that many children with autism face.