Product Description

Kevin and Me is a heartfelt memoir of a single mother who struggled with her son's Tourette syndrome and discovered music therapy as a magical influence on him and their relationship. Her courageous story covers Kevin's life from age six when his TS tics first appeared to his late twenties when he transformed from a violent man into a peaceful person. The author relates her personal account of music therapy with Kevin, a person with Tourette syndrome, developmental and learning disabilities, ADHD, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Kevin and Me will inspire parents, psychologists, teachers, and medical professionals to explore music therapy as a medium for reaching children and adults with Tourette syndrome. Modern music therapy began after World War I and slowly gained acceptance in mainstream medical circles. Its services are available in private centers, hospitals, and school districts.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1150347 in Books
• Published on: 2000-09
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 135 pages

Customer Reviews

Songs in the Key of Life
"Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast..." this oft-quoted line is startlingly a propos in Kevin Heenan's case.

Kevin developed normally for the first nearly 3 years of his life. He suffered from earaches as a toddler and his language was severely delayed. His social difficulties were first noticed in his aggression with peers as a pre-schooler. His younger sister Megan was the only child with whom he had a mostly good relationship.

Kevin was diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome when he was six. Facial twitching; grimaces; involuntary swearing and bizarre comments and generally poor language skills were behaviors that were present. Kevin's parents divorced when he was a young child. He became more violent, erratic and out of control. At 10, he was hospitalized for three years. Still in need of a secure facility, Kevin spent several more years in state facilities. His father resumes custody of Kevin when the boy was 15.

By that point, Kevin, medicated since the age of six to control violent behavior and Tourette-related outbursts had started running away. The boy's mother then resumed custody, but Kevin's problems continued. He was enrolled in special programs in high schools in his district; he rebelled as he chafed at the stigma of these educational placements. After years of fearing Kevin's violence and history of running away, the boy's mother has him placed in group homes.

Once in the group homes, Kevin literally steps up his running away. An inveterate soda addict, he goes on soda binges, even taking soda from other residents. Since the sugar jolt has adverse effects on his behavior, he is gradually weaned off of soda. That was the first of many giant steps he takes.

Luckily for Kevin, music therapy was included in the group home program. He responded immediately and everyone was soon singing the praises of the music therapists and music therapy in general. Kevin also became involved in his community, taking on several part-time jobs and even received an award for volunteering at an animal shelter.

From the telling, Kevin will continue to need care and supervision. Hope abounds as he makes progress in socializing with the other residents and by making music his forte. This book makes me think of Stevie Wonder's words "...music is a language we all understand..."

Kevin was in facilities that were part of MHMR (Mental Health, Mental Retardation) which is a Texas agency. Many readers will undoubtedly pick up on that.

I noticed that the word "eradicate," which means "obliterate" was used instead of "erratic," in "Kevin's eradicate [sic] behavior." The word "perseverate" is a damning and extremely harmful word. It has hurt many and is best avoided. The heavy-handed usage of that word cost this book one star. The terms "special interests," (if interests apply), "repetitive verbalizations/behaviors," or just plain "repetition" are much more accurate and demonstrate tolerance whereas that other word does not.

Still, this is a good book about life with a person who has an especially severe case of Tourette's in addition to other challenges.

Songs in the Key of Life
"Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast..." this oft-quoted line is startlingly a propos in Kevin Heenan's case.

Kevin developed normally for the first nearly 3 years of his life. He suffered from earaches as a toddler and his language was severely delayed. His social difficulties were first noticed in his aggression with peers as a pre-schooler. His younger sister Megan was the only child with whom he had a mostly good relationship.

Kevin was diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome when he was six. Facial twitching; grimaces; involuntary swearing and bizarre comments and generally poor language skills were behaviors that were present. Kevin's parents divorced when he was a young child. He became more violent, erratic and out of control. At 10, he was hospitalized for three years. Still in need of a secure facility, Kevin spent several more years in state facilities. His father resumes custody of Kevin when the boy was 15.

By that point, Kevin, medicated since the age of six to control violent behavior and Tourette-related outbursts had started running away. The boy's mother then resumed custody, but Kevin's problems continued. He was enrolled in special programs in high schools in his district; he rebelled as he chafed at the stigma of these educational placements. After years of fearing Kevin's violence and history of running away, the boy's mother has him placed in group homes.

Once in the group homes, Kevin literally steps up his running away. An inveterate soda addict, he goes on soda binges, even taking soda from other residents. Since the sugar jolt has adverse effects on his behavior, he is gradually weaned off of soda. That was the first of many giant steps he takes.

Luckily for Kevin, music therapy was included in the group home program. He responded immediately and everyone was soon singing the praises of the music therapists and music therapy in general. Kevin also became involved in his community, taking on several part-time jobs and even received an award for volunteering at an animal shelter.

From the telling, Kevin will continue to need care and supervision. Hope abounds as he makes progress in socializing with the other residents and by making music his forte. This book makes me think of Stevie Wonder's words "...music is a language we all understand..."

I noticed that the word "eradicate," which means "obliterate" was used instead of "erratic," in "Kevin's eradicate [sic] behavior." The word "perseverate" is a damning and extremely harmful word. It has hurt many and is best avoided. It is truly a damning, judgmental, negative and destructive word that is best avoided. "Repetitive behavior / verbalizations" is a preferable replacement and certainly shows more tolerance and is far more accurate. The heavy-handed usage of that word cost this book one star. The terms "special interests," (if interests apply), "repetitive verbalizations/behaviors," or just plain "repetition" are much more accurate and demonstrate tolerance whereas that other word does not.

Still, this is a good book about life with a person who has an especially severe case of Tourette's in addition to having other challenges.

Songs in the Key of Life
"Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast..." this oft-quoted line is startlingly a propos in Kevin Heenan's case.

Kevin developed normally for the first nearly 3 years of his life. He suffered from earaches as a toddler and his language was severely delayed. His social difficulties were first noticed in his aggression with peers as a pre-schooler. His younger sister Megan was the only child with whom he had a mostly good relationship.

Kevin was diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome when he was six. Facial twitching; grimaces; involuntary swearing and bizarre comments and generally poor language skills were behaviors that were present. Kevin's parents divorced when he was a young child. He became more violent, erratic and out of control. At 10, he was hospitalized for three years. Still in need of a secure facility, Kevin spent several more years in state facilities. His father resumes custody of Kevin when the boy was 15.

By that point, Kevin, medicated since the age of six to control violent behavior and Tourette-related outbursts had started running away. The boy's mother then resumed custody, but Kevin's problems continued. He was enrolled in special programs in high schools in his district; he rebelled as he chafed at the stigma of these educational placements. After years of fearing Kevin's violence and history of running away, the boy's mother has him placed in group homes.

Once in the group homes, Kevin literally steps up his running away. An inveterate soda addict, he goes on soda binges, even taking soda from other residents. Since the sugar jolt has adverse effects on his behavior, he is gradually weaned off of soda. That was the first of many giant steps he takes.

Luckily for Kevin, music therapy was included in the group home program. He responded immediately and everyone was soon singing the praises of the music therapists and music therapy in general. Kevin also became involved in his community, taking on several part-time jobs and even received an award for volunteering at an animal shelter.

From the telling, Kevin will continue to need care and supervision. Hope abounds as he makes progress in socializing with the other residents and by making music his forte. This book makes me think of Stevie Wonder's words "...music is a language we all understand..."

I noticed that the word "eradicate," which means "obliterate" was used instead of "erratic," in "Kevin's eradicate [sic] behavior." The word "perseverate" is a damning and extremely harmful word. It has hurt many and is best avoided. The heavy-handed usage of that word cost this book one star. The terms "special interests," (if interests apply), "repetitive verbalizations/behaviors," or just plain "repetition" are much more accurate and demonstrate tolerance whereas that other word does not.

Still, this is a good book about life with a person who has an especially severe case of Tourette's in addition to other challenges.