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Outsmarting Autism, Updated and Expanded: Build Healthy Foundations for Communication, Socialization, and Behavior at All Ages
Nautilus Award Winner, 2019--Silver in Parenting & Family
A comprehensive resource for parents, therapists, caregivers, and educators, packed with lifelong strategies for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) management and support
Newly revised and updated, this user-friendly guide addresses autism identification, treatment, and prevention from pre-conception through adulthood. Outsmarting Autism describes more than 50 practical approaches with proven efficacy, including lifestyle modification, dietary considerations, and boosting the immune system. After health improves, focus turns to developing the sensory foundations for communication, social skills, and learning.
Patricia Lemer's approach is grounded in research on multifactorial causes, or "Total Load Theory," which explains that developmental delays are caused not by one single factor, but by an overload of environmental stressors on genetically vulnerable individuals.
Because every person with autism is unique, this book guides readers to the therapies that may be right for each individual, helping to make the difference between management and healing. New research on topics like stem cells, cannabis, and dentistry is now included.
A comprehensive resource for parents, therapists, caregivers, and educators, packed with lifelong strategies for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) management and support
Newly revised and updated, this user-friendly guide addresses autism identification, treatment, and prevention from pre-conception through adulthood. Outsmarting Autism describes more than 50 practical approaches with proven efficacy, including lifestyle modification, dietary considerations, and boosting the immune system. After health improves, focus turns to developing the sensory foundations for communication, social skills, and learning.
Patricia Lemer's approach is grounded in research on multifactorial causes, or "Total Load Theory," which explains that developmental delays are caused not by one single factor, but by an overload of environmental stressors on genetically vulnerable individuals.
Because every person with autism is unique, this book guides readers to the therapies that may be right for each individual, helping to make the difference between management and healing. New research on topics like stem cells, cannabis, and dentistry is now included.
624 pages, Paperback
Published March 19, 2019
38 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 1, 2023
DNF, TL;DR
I really wasn't a fan of this book. Opening up a book that I believed was geared towards parents to explain how autism could be remedied in small ways... no, this isn't small changes, this is BIG changes. Patricia Lemer talks about things such as changing your diet, among other things, to "remedy" autism. And while I can attest to the idea that once my intolerances were dealt with, my autistic symptoms dissipated somewhat, I can say that they did NOT disappear entirely. Somehow what she was talking about struck me as her saying, "Autism is mainly caused by imbalances in your gut, not imbalances in your mind." Which may be true TO A POINT, I'm not dissing this entirely just... I don't know. I wasn't a fan, I didn't appreciate what she was saying, and I just couldn't finish this book.
She was really insensitive to other ideas and whatnot. She never tried to make a case for her side, she was more of the idea that this was the truth and everyone should believe it. At least that's how it came across to me. And that made this book really hard for me to read, really unpleasant, and I'm really just... ashamed by how it made me feel so disgusting. Like it made my idea of what autism is feel not only challenged but inferior somehow.
Maybe this is still worth a read for some people... but I'll be honest I don't even believe this deserves 2 stars. I couldn't finish it and I don't put down books that often. This was just a bad book. Hopefully, those that read it get more out of it because I just... I couldn't. And for those of you saying I didn't give it a good enough chance... I made it to the 7th chapter, that's 172 pages in on my copy. I gave it MORE than a fair chance and it did not prove itself worthy of my time.
But that's just my take on this. Feel free to disagree, I just wanted to put this out there in case it would help someone. Thanks for reading and have a blessed day!
I really wasn't a fan of this book. Opening up a book that I believed was geared towards parents to explain how autism could be remedied in small ways... no, this isn't small changes, this is BIG changes. Patricia Lemer talks about things such as changing your diet, among other things, to "remedy" autism. And while I can attest to the idea that once my intolerances were dealt with, my autistic symptoms dissipated somewhat, I can say that they did NOT disappear entirely. Somehow what she was talking about struck me as her saying, "Autism is mainly caused by imbalances in your gut, not imbalances in your mind." Which may be true TO A POINT, I'm not dissing this entirely just... I don't know. I wasn't a fan, I didn't appreciate what she was saying, and I just couldn't finish this book.
She was really insensitive to other ideas and whatnot. She never tried to make a case for her side, she was more of the idea that this was the truth and everyone should believe it. At least that's how it came across to me. And that made this book really hard for me to read, really unpleasant, and I'm really just... ashamed by how it made me feel so disgusting. Like it made my idea of what autism is feel not only challenged but inferior somehow.
Maybe this is still worth a read for some people... but I'll be honest I don't even believe this deserves 2 stars. I couldn't finish it and I don't put down books that often. This was just a bad book. Hopefully, those that read it get more out of it because I just... I couldn't. And for those of you saying I didn't give it a good enough chance... I made it to the 7th chapter, that's 172 pages in on my copy. I gave it MORE than a fair chance and it did not prove itself worthy of my time.
But that's just my take on this. Feel free to disagree, I just wanted to put this out there in case it would help someone. Thanks for reading and have a blessed day!
February 26, 2024
DNF. Agree with previous comments - this book should not be read by anyone who has any sort of contact with autistic kids.
It is just one big book of conspiracy theories, that is giving advices like “turn off your WiFi overnight”. I’m not going to go into details, but just pure existence of this book is scaring me, because it will definitely bring more disinformation in this world.
It is just one big book of conspiracy theories, that is giving advices like “turn off your WiFi overnight”. I’m not going to go into details, but just pure existence of this book is scaring me, because it will definitely bring more disinformation in this world.
January 24, 2025
This author dives so deep into autism. I would recommend giving yourself many months to get through this book. There is no stone unturned. Lots of helpful practical advice but can feel very overwhelming.
December 5, 2023
This book is a MUST NOT READ for any autistic person or someone who loves an autistic person. I haven't finished it due to the fact I gasped at every single page. I managed to read half of the first chapter.
The book is written in a harmful language associating autism with words such as desease, epidemic, treatment, detox etc.
I am at awe that the author has so little understanding of neurodiversity.
The book is deeply rooted in the notion that autism is a desease that needs to be cured, that autistic people are broken and need fixing.
It's sad that this book exists in this day and age.
I wish I could give it 0 stars.
The book is written in a harmful language associating autism with words such as desease, epidemic, treatment, detox etc.
I am at awe that the author has so little understanding of neurodiversity.
The book is deeply rooted in the notion that autism is a desease that needs to be cured, that autistic people are broken and need fixing.
It's sad that this book exists in this day and age.
I wish I could give it 0 stars.
June 23, 2023
My jaw dropped, I gasped and I cried several times whilst reading this. How ignorant I was!!!
If you have a child recently diagnosed on the spectrum, or even suspect it then this is the book for you. It covers EVERYTHING with citations and references for each chapter. From Total Load Theory, Environmental factors, food, therapy it should be taught and used at University level.
If you have a child recently diagnosed on the spectrum, or even suspect it then this is the book for you. It covers EVERYTHING with citations and references for each chapter. From Total Load Theory, Environmental factors, food, therapy it should be taught and used at University level.
December 27, 2023
Horrible. Truly horrible.
July 16, 2025
DNF after first chapter-
RFK “science” sounding board.
Discourages use of neurology.
Gut cures
Mercury, vax blaming, stress blaming
Postulations, not based on cited scientific research or methodology.
RFK “science” sounding board.
Discourages use of neurology.
Gut cures
Mercury, vax blaming, stress blaming
Postulations, not based on cited scientific research or methodology.
February 11, 2021
If you're looking for a helpful guide on how to relate to someone in your life with autism, or how best to assist an autistic child, give this book a read.
April 18, 2025
This book is a wealth of information.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews