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Actress and entertainer Jenny McCarthy is the author of Louder Than Words: A Mother’s Journey in Healing Autism. I have to admit that I never paid much attention to her before. She wasn’t someone I really took seriously, until I read about her son’s struggle with autism.

Autism is a frightening word for parents. I remember watching my own son as he reached the age when most autistic traits begin to manifest themselves, around 1 to 3 years old. I had read about it and knew some kids who had it, so I analyzed his every movement for while to see how he was acting. Was he lining things up too much? Overreacting to noise, lights, or touch? Was he responsive or in his own little world all the time? Did he lack age-appropriate communication, did he fail to learn by copying behaviors of others, was he showing repetitive movements, or displaying socially inappropriate behavior? These are all traits of autism. They are also traits of normal childhood development in the appropriate amounts. So when I read how McCarthy had been stunned by the doctor’s diagnosis, I could sympathize with how that blow must have felt. My own son has no signs of autism. But I had prepared myself for the worst and hoped for the best as he developed.

In a special report to CNN, McCarthy stated, “Everything I thought was cute was a sign of autism and I felt tricked.” Some children with autism have severe forms that are evident right away. For milder forms, like McCarthy’s son Evan has, the clues can be difficult to pick up on. She had been to several doctors and hospitals after Evan began having seizures at age 2. It wasn’t until she finally visited “the best pediatric neurologist in LA” that a diagnosis was finally made. As Evan lined up ear cones in the corner of his office and started flapping his arms, the doctor explained autism and how Evan’s “cute” behaviors were actually classic autistic traits.

McCarthy has pledged to “work my ass off raising awareness for autism and banging down doors to get answers.” Evan is now five, completely communicative, and has responded very well to treatments. But his mother knows she was one of the lucky ones. The same treatments that worked for her son don’t work for others, and no one knows why. I didn’t pay much attention to McCarthy before because she just seemed like another blonde with boobs trying to get famous for being an all out party girl. But it is her energy, drive, determination, and complete emotional openness that just might provide an effective spokesperson for Autism. If anybody can bang down the doors, it will be Jenny McCarthy.

To learn more about McCarthy’s book, visit Amazon: Louder Than Words: A Mother’s Journey in Healing Autism.

Read more at Discussing Autism.

Jenny McCarthy, autism, Louder Than Words, autism treatment, diagnosing autism, health, children’s health