Trigger Warning: Carly Fleischmann Update

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Carly Fleischmann underwent Electric Chock Therapy (ECT) last March and lost her ability to communicate. Yesterday was the first time she have been able to communicate at all since then. I hope she can recover from this failed treatment.

"i cabnt typerc anymmyore ectt didfd thisds to meed brayiin is scrrammbellld needdc fdocttor helphgfi" - Carly

"This is carly's dad. all is fine. carly had ECT in march. since then she's been unable to type or go on FB. tonight has been the first words we'e heard from her since April! we're all with her and her doctor is on the case! thank you all for your kind words, prayers and concerns. this is actually a joyful time!"

https://www.facebook.com/carlysvoice

There is nothing "joyful" about this. What were they trying to accomplish with ECT? I would call her returning communication "lucky" and "a relief" but definitely not "joyful". What must it have been like for Carly to be stuck silent in her own head for all that time?

Yes, I feeling dread just imagining how she must have felt the last 8-9 months. I was wondering why she suddenly had fallen silent and not updating her page. I would really want to know why they subjected her to this treatment.

Honestly? I don't think her dad is very smart. When I read her book, and from what I've seen... he doesn't seem to understand her very well. Something tells me this might have been his idea. I never liked her dad much either. I feel sorry for her because it's bad enough she can't speak, and now she has lost her ability to type through text? How the hell is that joyful? I'd like to know what the frick he's thinking calling it joyful. It doesn't sound like it's very good parenting to me.

I also fail to see the joy in all this. ECT is painful to go through and not being able to communicate doesn't seem joyful to me. I wouldn't wish ECT on anybody.

The father is somewhat of an ass. I read her book, and he struck me as someone who showed little interest in her. It was as if he was pushing himself to accept her, but he was falling to grasp what she was dealing with. Yeah, I get that most parents are like that, but this really pisses me off though. I agree with Cockney on this. Why the hell would you subject such a talented young woman who's changed the face of autism to this kind of treatment?

From what I could gleam surfing though the replies on Facebook, it appears that Carly had posted something a while back about wanting to seek treatment for some of her severe symptoms of co-morbid OCD, and it is speculated that the ECT may have been the treatment that was ultimately sought out. Supposedly, ECT is supposed to have some effect on severe OCD. Then again, I do not know Carly or her family, so I cannot say for certain what was going on.

I agree, though, that other avenues should have been considered, especially since so little is known about the autistic brain and, thus, what effects sending high voltages of electricity through this may have. I do wish Carly the utmost healing and peace.

I have only heard of electroconvulsive therapy being used for severe depression that doesn't respond to other treatments. I wonder what was going on here. The words are disturbing to read.

Did Carly outline her reasons for wanting to do ECT before undergoing the procedure? It sounds like a pretty scary procedure with the risk of memory loss.

That's very sad. I hope she recovers her brain and can get treatments that actually help her. I suspect she got ECT to get rid of her stimming.

It is sad story. I read many comments of people who were praying for her at Facebook.

Why she had ECT therapy? Was it more harmful than helping?