Magnificent Minds

The New Whole-Child Approach to Autism

By: Suzanne Goh MD

Narrated by: Suzanne Goh MD

An essential primer based on a renowned new model of care that is comprehensive and research based, while honoring the uniqueness of every child

An estimated one in thirty-six children in the United States is diagnosed with autism. New research has shed light on the many factors that determine a child’s trajectory—but many parents are still navigating this complex terrain without a road map. Pediatric neurologist Dr. Suzanne Goh has spent decades working with autistic children, and in this practical and research-based guide she shares her renowned and revolutionary model of care: an innovative, whole-child approach that combines optimal medical treatment with the most effective strategies for advancing cognition, communication, and behavior.

Demystifying a wide range of diagnostics and therapies and offering new insights into the neurological, biochemical, behavioral, and social factors that play a role in successful outcomes, the book is an essential resource for understanding all of autism—a strengths-based approach that helps parents design a comprehensive treatment plan. It is also a celebration of what each autistic person brings to the world—and how parents can best nurture the remarkable uniqueness of their child while setting them up for the future they envision.

Solid

Solid overall book to support parents understanding the larger networks surrounding supporting an autistic child. It’s as if your developmental pediatrician got the time to sit down and tell you everything she knows and wishes you knew too in a way that also empowers the parents to take an active role. My biggest critic is that she mentions the SCERTS model as an ABA curriculum and it is NOT. It’s a Developmental Relationship Based model. I still prefer Uniquely Human as a starter book for every parent to fall in love with your child…. This is a medical viewpoint but easy to understand.

informative and great performance

Very well organized book regarding cognitive abilities/autism information coupled with a great performance by the author herself. You will learn tremendously about how to spot different types of autism (highlighted by real life examples) and gain more interest in learning more about autism.

The best book ever.

As a teacher, I believe Magnificent Minds is a truly special book for parents and educators. It honors each child's unique mind and reminds us to lead with understanding compassion and love. ❤️

Shallow guidance on autism

Overall this book offers very shallow guidance on autism. As the book says - similar to a brain stroke, lost time is lost mental function; to get all the biological testing done ASAP. This testing is ignored by all standard care. But bafflingly the book completely skips the details of this critical part. All except, the small subset and what the author studies - genetic mitochondria disfunction.

Instead the book instructions:
* autism as neurodivergence, and to accept the difference
* standard approaches such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

I recommend the the following book to understand the biological testing and the potential root causes vs superficial treatment:
* Healing the New Childhood Epidemics, by Dr Kenneth Bock