MeRT Treatment for Autism
The New Approach to Autism: A Non-Invasive and Drug-Free Therapy
The MeRT Approach
MeRT, or Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy, is a breakthrough treatment for Autism. The Brain Treatment Center uses FDA-cleared equipment. This equipment generates a gentle magnetic field to balance and stimulate brain function. This process is guided by sophisticated diagnostics and imaging.
As a result of MeRT treatment, many children open up for the very first time. Allowing them to experience and interact with the world. Our doctors regularly see improvements in eye contact. Other improvements include communication and understanding directions. They can also feel a sense of calm that reduces outbursts.*
Personalized Treatment
MeRT protocols work by optimizing brain communication to be more organized and in sync. This allows the child to have better communication skills, social skills, and more independence. And that means a higher quality of life for both the patient and the parent.
It is unique because all other therapies — such as ABA and school — are improved as the brain pathways open up.
*Results can vary from patient to patient
Call Our New Patient Coordinator to Learn More
We Are Happy to Discuss Your Specific Situation
Call (619) 255-2101
Miriam’s MeRT Story…
Miriam’s daughter Raquel had been diagnosed with severe ASD at the age of one and a half.
Raquel didn’t speak, listen, or respond to her name. Additionally, she didn’t follow directions or want to be touched. She didn’t look into her mother’s eyes, and had no emotional connection to her mother, father, even her twin sister.
Miriam spent the next three years searching desperately for anything that could improve Raquel’s quality of life. She tried several forms of therapy, such as phonoaudiology, occupational therapy, behavioral therapy, and sensory integration. Miriam also changed Raquel’s diet, so it was free of gluten and casein.
All these efforts helped Raquel show slight signs of improvement, but not anything significant. At four and a half years old, doctors still gave Raquel the diagnosis of severe autism.
“My daughter lived in her own little world…”
“Life was completely miserable,” Miriam said. “Raquel suffered from extremely high anxiety. We couldn’t go to a mall or a restaurant or the movies. We couldn’t even drive with her in the car without the panic attacks and the screaming. My daughter lived in her own little world, and we weren’t a part of it.”
Refusing to give up, Miriam heard about the Brain Treatment Center and MeRT, and decided to give it a try. The second day of treatment changed their lives.
Raquel enjoyed the therapy, and she was happy to go. And this shocked Miriam. Also, this was the first time Miriam had ever seen her happy. After the second day of treatment, Miriam brought Raquel home. “I was in the kitchen with my husband,” she said. “Raquel walked up to us with a cup in her hand and said ‘juice.’ That was the first word she’d ever spoken. We were in shock.”
Raquel then walked to a lemon tree outside, yanked a lemon off the tree, and smelled it. Before this, Miriam hadn’t even realized her daughter knew what a lemon was or that it had a smell. “It’s as if that information was there all the time but had been trapped,” said Miriam.
When her twin sister tried to take the lemon away, Raquel fought for it, saying “MY lemon,” then danced around holding the lemon away from her sister, playing with her. This was the first interaction Raquel had ever had with her twin.
A week later, Raquel discovered that Miriam was her mother.
“She looked me in the eye, grabbed my shoulders and gasped, then hugged me,” Miriam said. “Then she pulled away and looked at me, gasped again, and kissed me. I’ll never forget that moment as long as I live.”
After three weeks of therapy, Raquel was able to go with her family to Disney World, which is unquestionably one of the most over-stimulating places on the planet.
“We knew at that point that the frightening part of our lives was over,” said Miriam. “It’s truly a miracle.”
Hear from Adriana, Mom of Mikey, who Underwent Treatment at our Sister Clinic in Newport Beach:
A New, Non-invasive, Drug-Free Treatment for
Children on the Autism Spectrum
MeRT(sm) stands for Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy. The Brain Treatment Center uses MeRT technology with guided electromagnetic stimulation to balance and stimulate brain function, all guided by sophisticated diagnostics and imaging. MeRT can be used in conjunction with any other type of therapy.
MeRT could be considered a version of TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) that is closely guided to work on only the parts of the brain where activity and communication are sub-optimal.
With a diagnosis of Autism early intervention is key to the child’s development. Results from this treatment are giving many parents renewed HOPE for their child!
Call Our New Patient Coordinator to Learn More
(619) 255-2101
Or fill in the form at the bottom of the page and she will contact you.
Benefits We Have Seen
Some of the Benefits* we have seen in addressing Autism with MeRT include:
- Improved Eye Contact
- Less anxiety, more relaxed
- More independence
- Improved concentration and focus
- Better interaction with others
- Response to Directions
- Improved sleep
- Longer sleep duration
- Improved mood, Less Anxiety
- Increased ability to cope with stress
- Greater attention span
- More sociability
- More motivation to learn
- Better emotional stability
- Increased ability to adapt to change
- Greater self-confidence and self-esteem
- More “presence” in the world going on around them
- Improved language skills
* Results are based on active and strict observation of our regimens. Results may vary based on the individual user and are not guaranteed.
Brain Patterns Found in Autism
Autism affects each person differently.
No two people will have the same experience with Autism, but there are some commonalities since it often causes issues with how a person communicates and views the outside world. It may affect many social skills, learning, interacting with others, and the ability to function independently of care.
The EEG will show different electrical signals in the brain of a child with autism compared to a child who is not suffering from ASD. Those affected with Autism will often have signature indicators that appear in the front 3/4 of the brain. These brainwaves are dominated by a mix of slow (Delta & Theta waves) and high (Beta wave) frequency behavior, whereas a neurotypical patient would usually have one dominant frequency in the alpha band of activity.
MeRT protocols work by neuromodulating brain waves. This optimizes brain communication which helps it to be more organized and in sync. This can allow the child to be higher functioning, and in most cases, to have better communication skills, social skills, and more independence, allowing for a higher quality of life for both the patient and the caregiver.
*Results can vary from patient to patient
Testimonial
Hear it from the Parents…
“We are dropping a line to thank you for your help last summer with Immanuel. My wife and I are RVing this weekend and marveling at how well Immanuel now socializes with other children at the campsite. We were here last year around the same time and he needed constant play supervision because he kept arguing & trying to control play. This weekend he’s able to go along with what others are playing.
He is also at a private school with no special ed teacher to support him, and he is able to succeed without the extra support. It’s a small classroom, but last year it would have been impossible. Immanuel has made such strides socially, with nonverbal cues, being flexible, and regulating his frustrations.
His occupational therapist has been amazed, as well. She evaluated him before he started treatment with you but started therapy AFTER we returned from Texas. She says that he has been crushing the prescribed program— he scored significantly above expectations at the latest eval. and he’s is speeding through the stages. We are thrilled by Immanuel’s progress and the fact that he can play with other kids—he’s had numerous play dates at our house and they’ve gone well. This touches our hearts more than anything—that he has friends now.
Again, thank you for making this treatment available and for your guiding us through the process. We looked forward to the summer.” – David and Debbie J.
Common Characteristics of Autism
These are some of the characteristics of Autism, however, these will vary depending on where the child is on the Spectrum:
- Inability to read body language or understand changes in the tone of voice
- Little or no make eye contact
- Appearing disconnected from the outside world, and not engaging with their environment
- Not acknowledging or responding when they are spoken to
- Lack of verbal skills
- Blank facial expressions
- Monotone speech patterns
- Appearing to lack emotions, connection, or compassion for others
- Responding inappropriately in social settings
- Being disruptive, hyperreactive, or loud
- Not understanding questions or instructions
- Not initiating conversation on their own, in some cases repeating what is spoken to them
- Being obsessive about routines
- Fixation on objects or events
- Exhibiting repetitive movements
- Acting out aggressively when they don’t want to do something
- More extreme reactions in over-stimulating environments
The Details…
The Exact Steps of MeRT Treatment
We understand MeRT is a relatively new treatment, and you may not be sure if this is right for your situation. Yet this is not a decision you have to make right away or all alone.
Phone Consultation
Your first step is a simple phone consultation with our New Patient Coordinator. In this free, no-obligation consultation, you can discuss symptoms and history, ask all the questions you want, and have her explain the protocols and fees. She can also further explain the treatment itself.
After the call, if you are interested in taking the next step, we can set up an appointment for a qEEG (a simple, painless, and non-invasive brain scan).
First Appointment
When you come in for your first appointment, we will perform the qEEG and EKG as mentioned above in the Treatment Overview section. These tests will help us evaluate brain activity and show us any dysfunction. The qEEG, or brain mapping, is a valuable tool as lets us customize treatment for YOU.
The qEEG/EKG testing is performed by our chief neurotechnician and takes approximately an hour to complete for an autism mapping. We will also gather your new patient paperwork at this time, and get you scheduled for your initial assessment period of treatment.
Second Appointment
Your second appointment will be a clinical evaluation with Kate Ryan, R.N., which takes approximately 45 minutes. You can have this appointment via Telemedicine or in-clinic, whichever you prefer. Please note that if you choose a Telemedicine appointment and are seeking treatment for your child, your child will need to be present.
During this consultation, Kate will answer all your questions and discuss your applicable treatment plan. You will also have an opportunity to meet with our physician and Medical Director, Julie Kim, M.D.
Assessment Period
Six weeks of treatment is recommended for patients undergoing MeRT in order to achieve optimal and long-lasting results. However, prior to committing to the six weeks, we have each patient first go through an assessment period of treatment to see how they will respond. This assessment period is included in the six weeks of treatment.
The assessment is two weeks long. It consists of nine treatment sessions followed by a repeat qEEG. Treatment would be provided the first week, Monday through Friday, and the following week, Monday through Thursday. A typical treatment session lasts about 30-45 minutes.
Additionally, the follow-up qEEG results will be covered with you by your provider.
If clinical changes are occurring as they should, and the qEEG also shows progress, then you would then continue treatment which would occur five days per week, Monday through Friday. Generally, you will begin to feel the benefits of treatment within a week or two, but because treatment is cumulative, should continue to note improvements throughout the course of your treatment, and even for some weeks after treatment. Because treatment is consecutive, you must be able to stay in or around the area while undergoing your therapy.
Treatment
If clinical changes are occurring as they should and the qEEG also shows progress, you will then continue treatment. This ongoing treatment occurs five days per week, Monday through Friday.
You should start to feel the benefits of treatment within a week or two, but because treatment is cumulative, you should continue to note improvements throughout the course of your treatment, and even for some weeks afterward.
Additionally, because we perform treatment on consecutive days, you must be able to stay in or around the San Diego area while undergoing your therapy.
Because each person’s brain and condition are unique, we customize treatment protocols specifically for each patient, guided by the qEEG results. And repeat qEEGs and clinical consultations occur every two weeks throughout treatment.
As a note, the potential side-effects of treatment are minimal and should begin to dissipate as you progress through treatment. Moreover, the effects of treatment generally last a lifetime, though some patients prefer occasional follow-up treatment as needed.
Improvements and results of MeRT are based on strict and active observation of our treatment protocols. Results may vary based on each person and are not guaranteed.
Insurance
We are an in-network provider with TRICARE. If you have TRICARE insurance, your policy may provide coverage for you or a family member, depending on your specific policy and condition. Our New Patient Coordinator can discuss this with you in further detail.
For all other insurance, we are considered out of network and cannot file insurance on your behalf. We can, however, provide you with the appropriate paperwork at the end of your treatment. Then you can submit it to your insurance company to see if they will provide you with any reimbursement.
Currently, rTMS is FDA cleared for Depression and OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.) Treatment for all other conditions is considered “off-label.” However, we are hopeful that treatment for TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) will be FDA cleared in the next two to three years. For non-FDA-approved treatment, it is not likely that insurance will provide reimbursement for our protocols.
Some patients have reported that they have been able to receive some reimbursement for EEGs or clinical evaluations. However, this depends on their health coverage. Medicare patients have reported that their coverage provides no reimbursement for MeRT.
We take all major credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.
Care Credit
Care Credit is also an option to help finance medical expenses and is a separate company from The Brain Treatment Center San Diego. This is a credit card you can use to cover medical expenses and services. They typically offer zero-interest financing for 12 months.
Usually, when you go to the Care Credit website and apply, they will rapidly let you know if you receive approval.
Interested but not sure?
Talk with our New Patient Coordinator
It doesn’t cost anything to call us and talk about what is happening. Our New Patient Coordinator is here for you. She understands your pain. She listens and can answer any question. And she can also explain the process and protocols, costs, possible insurance benefits, and any other details you want to know. It’s important to note that there are no obligations, and she will take the time you need to know whether or not you should take the next steps.