The Sound Of A Miracle: The Inspiring True Story of A Mother's Fight to Free Her Child from Autism

by Annabel Stehli

The Sound of a Miracle is the riveting story of Gergiana Stehli's triumphant progress from autistic and functionally retarded to gifted. When mothers from all over the country contacted Annabel and told their stories, she put them in touch with one another, forming The Parent's Network, and inspired them to do as she had done: to defy the negative prognoses of the experts and to fight for their children with Autism, Pervasive Developmental Delay (PDD), Attention Deficit and Central Auditory Processing Disorder ( ADD and CAPD), Dyslexia, and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. In curing Georgie's painful hearing, her most distressing symptom, a new intervention called auditory training made it possible for her to enjoy communication and to excel academically. There are many Georgies now, ready to take their place among their peers without a label, with a future as bright as any child's. The interest sparked by The Sound of a Miracle resulted in the founding of The Gerogiana Organization, the validation of auditory training as a thoroughly researched treatment modality, and avalability worldwide.

Genres: Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Nonfiction, Memoir

226 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Stephen Gallup · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author charts the disintegration of her family and of her own life as the result of having an autistic daughter. The remarkable success she finally achieved attracted considerable attention to a controversial treatment called auditory training. The story is extremely interesting, and it warrants professional consideration. What happened on its release, however, was the spawning of a cottage industry of auditory therapists of perhaps dubious merit who then fanned out across the country to capitalize on all the interest the book had generated. I’m not aware of anyone else who enjoyed similar results from the treatment. We didn't.

This is one of the rather unsatisfactory parent memoirs that led me eventually to write my own family's story.

[Iamshadow · Rating 3 out of 5]

These days I think Georgie would be diagnosed with some kind of Auditory Processing Disorder, rather than autism. The fact that Auditory Integration Therapy completely cured her of her 'autism', a result which is rare, (though AIT can help many a/A people with sensory issues) seems to support this. A good read, nonetheless.

[Fishface · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read about an autistic child's remarkable recovery, in defiance of some strikingly unhelpful treatment early in her life. I question her parents' statements that the only thing that really helped Georgie was the treatment of her sensory defensiveness. She was clearly making solid progress even before her parents moved her to Switzerland and got her in with Dr. Berard. It's clearly also true that she would not be nearly as social and able to engage in the world now without Dr. Berard's help. This memoir was written by Georgie's mom, and her account of how Bruno Bettelheim's misguided thinking about autism -- and the treatment book about autism and the treatment community's lockstep
with Bettelheim's mother-blaming -- makes it even more remarkable that Georgie got anywhere in life. This book is a message of hope for change, but at the same time it's a dire warning for any doctor or therapist who thinks that the latest fashion in treatment is the only right way to proceed. Read this one if you want to actually help the autist on your caseload or in your family.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a profoundly moving story.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good book. It tells the true struggle of a woman who has a daughter diagnosed with autism. This was during the 60's when not much was known about autism. Back then, it was believed to be the parents' fault for either babying their child too much or neglecting them. Annabel Stehli went through a difficult time...friends telling her to institutionalize her daughter as well as the doctors themselves. Mrs. Stehli's daughter recovered fully due to an experimental auditory treatment. It was hard reading about their struggles and what rude things people have to say, but it was very good.

[Lynette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read. It's a little older book (1990s) about dealing with a child with Autism. Things have changed dramatically since she wrote this book but she was definitely a pioneer! I applaud all parents who had to deal with a society that thought that mother's didn't parent properly and that's why they have a special needs child! Thank heaven I have not had to deal with that! It is a moving story and I highly recommend it to everyone for it's insights, spirituality, and "realness" if that's a word!

[Monica Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart wrenching so far. The dr in this book is ignorant and a jerk. My heart hurts for Annabel. Quote from the book "'she is obviously retarded and low functioning, and a great deal of it is due to the fact that you'-he looked straight at me- ' have avoided contact with her'" God I hate this man but I love the authors way of writing. Totally recommend this book. So called doctors saying that autism is due to a child not having enough interaction....glad to see the author didn't buy that excuse.

[Legustafson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this before, I am just skimming for some info. Good descriptions of autism in girls, saw myself and DD in those. I won't be spending alot of time with this book. I just picked it up again because we are starting listening TX at home for DD this week. The author is irritating. She is one of those East Coast debs who whine.

[Kim Loewen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It's a true story about a Mother's fight to free her child from autism. Such a good book.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

about auditory intergration therapy which was successful for this person. very inspiring.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who's life is affected by autism should read this book immediately.