As the title suggests, this book is written from a scientific perspective and much of the content is quite dense. Despite that, it still manages to engage the reader as the author gives the history of the rise of autism in the Western world.

Jepson is a doctor with the ability to explain the medical complexities involved in the diagnosis and treatment of autism that will be much appreciated by the average reader. The book addresses the issues of toxins and heavy metals and also explains what makes a person with autism different physically.

The reader also learns how autism is a medical disease and is treatable if looked at from that perspective. This book will give the people who care for and live with someone with autism more than hope; it will give them the knowledge they need to help improve their lives.

—Michele Dennis, Kindred Books

Review from Medical Veritas (pdf format).

Changing the Course of Autism is well written, balanced, and persuasive. Prompted by a recent barrage of public service announcements sponsored by Autism Speaks, in late July I headed to the local Barnes & Noble to locate the "best argument" I could find in the current autism / vaccination debate. Of all the options, I found this book to be the most promising. I freely admit that I was (both by nature and by training) skeptical of many of the claims that I had heard.

During my military service, I personally administered hundreds of vaccinations -- and oversaw the administration of more than 10,000 doses of a wide array of vaccines including yellow fever, typhoid, Japanese encephalitis, plague, etc. My first child (now 14 years old) received every scheduled vaccination on time. Although firmly in the "vaccinate early and often" camp, I have always tried to remain open minded and objective.

I read chapters 1 through 14 of the book. (The treatment portion of the text has no immediate relevance for me at this time.) My wife and I discussed many of the passages at length. I pursued independent confirmation of several specific issues, including the alleged "retraction" of Dr. Wakefield's 1998 Lancet article. I found the treatment of the issues to be scholarly, readable, and even-handed.

Why did I take such a keen interest in this book? My second child was born in June. Until such time as I have exhaustively reviewed the available data for each recommended vaccine, her schedule will be on hold.

To date, I have purchased 15 copies of Changing the Course of Autism. Two copies will be going to my daughter's pediatricians at her two month visit. One copy has already gone to the mother of an autistic patient (with chronic diarrhea and "failure to thrive") I saw last week. The rest of the copies will be going to the dozen or so co-workers of mine who are new parents. I plan on making more bulk purchases in the future to distribute to fellow physicians, local libraries, etc.

—Richard S. Swinney, MD FAAEM

"Calling it a developmental disorder is like calling a brain tumor a headache. Autism is merely one symptom of an underlying disease process that affects the immunological system, the gastrointestinal system, and the toxicological system, as well as the neurological system.”

If you've searched for biomedical treatments, chances are you've encountered a glaring lack of knowledge or even outright skepticism. Dr. Jepson wrote this book to help overcome such obstacles.

Changing the Course of Autism is radically comprehensive. Dr. Jepson has consolidated all the current research on thimerosal, immune system dysfunction, gut disease and environmental toxins. He explains the biochemistry of autism and discusses how biomedical treatments work. His goal is to educate mainstream physicians about the medical basis of autism, but he also writes for parents so they can understand the biological rationale behind the treatment strategies for their children.

The scientific information is extensive but there is plenty of understandable content and readers can skip to whatever sections suit their needs. Dr. Jepson has truly created an indispensable one-stop reference for autism's biomedical issues.

—Autism/Asperger’s Digest Magazine

Twenty years ago autism was rare: today it's prevalent, making Changing the Course of Autism: A Scientific Approach for Parents and Physicians even more essential to any public or college-level health collection. This book challenges many conventional beliefs about autism's origins and diagnosis, and suggests it has roots in the environment. Chapters cover nutritional and disease models of autism and offer important medical insights on autism's many influences. It's a key autism survey any serious health collection needs; particularly those catering to parents.

—The Health/Medicine Shelf, Midwest Book Review

Board-certified emergency medical doctor and parent of an autism spectrum child Bryan Jepson, M.D. presents Changing the Course of Autism: A Scientific Approach for Parents and Physicians, a scientific scrutiny that re-examines commonly held beliefs about autism spectrum disorder, along with Jane Johnson, whose expertise lies in the field of researching and treating autism in children.

Changing the Course of Autism takes the bold stance that autism is not solely caused by genetic factors, but rather a combination of genetic and environmental factors - an abundance of toxicity in the environment combined with autistic individuals' reduced ability or inability to detoxify. The sudden epidemic of autism in today's society (1 in 150 children has been diagnosed) underscores that environmental factors must be at work, since a disease that is solely genetic is not likely to produce a similar surge. Chapters further explore possible environmental causes of autism, and ways to treat autism and help children recover. Written in plain terms for parents, caretakers, and medical personnel alike, Changing the Course of Autism is an absolute must-read for new or expecting parents with a history of autism, or who wish to prepare themselves to defend their child from an onslaught of environmental toxins in today's unfortunately polluted world. Highly recommended.

—Midwest Book Review

Once viewed as rare and unusual, autism is now considered an epidemic with the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention findings reporting that one in 150 children in the United States now has autism. The parent of an autistic child, Jepson (founder, Children’s Biomedical Ctr. of Utah) encourages physicians and parents to view autism “as a medical illness, not just a behavior disorder.” He discusses the neurological, gastrointestinal, genetic, and environmental issues that complicate our understanding of autism. His book is meant to be used as an overview for the layperson, not as a step-by-step guide on how to treat autism. Although there are agreed-upon common treatment approaches, each autistic child is unique. Jepson makes clear that with proper medical oversight, the autistic child can improve, often dramatically. Recommended as a comprehensive reference resource on autism in consumer health collections.

—Library Journal