Autism

MeRT: An Emerging New Treatment for Autism! 

MeRT(sm) stands for Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy. Peak Neuro Performance utilizes the MeRT technology which uses a gentle magnetic field to balance and stimulate brain function, guided by sophisticated diagnostics and imaging. Results from this treatment are giving many parents renewed HOPE for their Autistic children! 

MeRT Treatment Provides Hope for Patients With Autism!

Different types of therapies are available for children or adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Peak Neuro Performance offers MeRT treatment, which can be used in conjunction with any other types of therapies. Many parents are overwhelmed by a diagnosis of Autism, but early intervention is key to the child’s development.

MeRT, which stands for Magnetic E (EEG/EKG) Resonance Therapy is currently used “off label” to treat Autism. The equipment used in MeRT is FDA-cleared for treating Major Depressive Disorder and OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) but numerous studies have shown that it can be effective for treating ASD in helping to develop skills to function more normally. Additionally, MeRT can help children to get more out of other therapies.

MeRT protocols are an advanced version of TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation). TMS treatment is more of a one-size-fits-all approach since it is only able to target a single location in the brain with one particular frequency.

MeRT utilizes a quantitative EEG/EKG to show exactly in each individual brain where dysregulation is occurring, and treatment is customized exactly for each patient’s needs based on frequency, location, and the amount of power used.

“We 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.

“Our son is now 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. He has made such strides socially, with non verbal 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 treatment. She says that he has been crushing the prescribed program – he scored significantly above expectations at the latest eval and he is speeding through the stages. We are thrilled by his 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. Thank you for making this treatment available and for your guiding us through the process. We look forward to summer.” – David J. *

Do You Have Questions?

 Our New Patient Coordinator is standing by and ready to answer any questions you may have, explain our protocols and fees and help you decide if MeRT is the right treatment for you. She can also get your initial EEG and consultation scheduled, as a next step to seeing if you may benefit from MeRT.

Call Our New Patient Coordinator to Learn More

(720) 586-4067

About Autism

Autism Spectrum Disorder affects each person differently. No two people have the exact same experience with Autism, but there are some commonalities since it can inhibit brain function and cause issues with how a person views the outside world and communicates with others. Social skills, learning, interacting with others, and the ability to function independently of care are all affected. Because of this, it’s not uncommon for some patients to have inappropriate responses to everyday stimuli, whether that be with people or with situations.

Autism usually presents early during the first year of life, however, this isn’t always the case. Others will seem to develop normally, but will then show a regression between 18-24 months old. The child loses skills that have already been learned and will begin to show other typical symptoms of Autism.

The qEEG will show different electrical signals in the brain of a child with Autism compared to a normal child. For those not affected with Autism, brain patterns are typically dominant alpha frequency, but in a child with Autism, there is a mix of higher frequencies of beta waves mixed with slower delta and theta brain waves.

MeRT protocols work by neuromodulating brain waves. This optimizes brain communication which helps it to be more organized and in sync. This often allows the child to be higher functioning, and in many cases, to have better communication skills, social skills, and more independence, resulting in improved quality of life for both the patient and the caregiver.

MeRT treatment for Autism was recently featured on the television show, “The Doctors.” You can watch the episode Video here.

Symptoms of Autism

No two cases of Autism are the same. Each child is unique and has different severity levels. Even if a child is on a similar “level” as another, they can still have their own unique symptoms, ways of dealing with the outside world, and ways of communicating. Autism can affect intelligence levels in some cases, however, in other situations, a person can have a very high IQ, while still being autistic. Just because a child has high intelligence, social skills, common sense, the ability to communicate and cope can still be sub-optimal.

MeRT treatment protocols are tailored for each patient to help restore their brain to a more optimal degree of normalcy, based on each individual child. Each patient will have a different starting point based on where they are on the spectrum, but regardless of where they start from, improvements are generally seen and brain function is improved. Results can vary from patient to patient.

These are some of the possible characteristics of Autism, however, these will vary depending on where the child is on the Spectrum:

• Not making eye contact
• Appearing disconnected from the outside world, or not engaging with their environment
• Not always understanding or acknowledging when they are being spoken to
• Lack of verbal skills
• Blank facial expressions
• Use of monotone speech patterns
• Expressing little or no emotions, connection, or compassion for others
• Responding inappropriately in social settings
• Somewhat disruptive, hyperreactive, or loud behavior
• Not understanding questions or instructions
• Not initiating a conversation on their own, but can repeat what is spoken to them
• Being obsessive about routines
• Stiff movements
• Fixation on objects or events
• Behaviors such as rocking back and forth, banging their heads, biting, hitting, or other repetitive movements
• Not playing with toys or with other children
• Acting aggressively when they don’t want to do something
• Meltdown in over-stimulating environments
• Inability to read body language or understand changes in the tone of voice.

Currently, the exact cause of autism is unknown. Some research indicates that inherited genetic factors can play a role, but this is far from conclusive. Other studies are underway to determine if environmental exposures such as viral infections, medications, or complications in pregnancy can contribute to Autism.

Call Our New Patient Coordinator to Learn More

(720) 586-4067

The MeRT Process

Studies have shown that brain wave oscillations are altered in patients suffering from Autism, as well as other conditions such as Major Depressive Disorder, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, and others. MeRT treatment protocols involve the use of a magnetic field to balance and stimulate brain function. The technology involves using brain imaging and sophisticated diagnostics to customize treatment for each individual with a personalized protocol, tailored based on the location, frequency, and amount of power used by the magnet, specific to each person’s unique condition.  The objective with MeRT is to improve brain communication and synchronization, leading to significant and long-lasting improvements.

Initial MeRT research was done by the U.S. Department of Defense for veterans returning from combat. This article that was published in Defense One further explains this research and the benefits that MeRT had on those who, suffering from TBI, PTSD, and MDD, were treated with MeRT. Many more studies have been completed in the private sector on other conditions.

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Finding out if this Treatment is Right for You

We understand that MeRT is a relatively new, cutting edge treatment and you may not be certain if this is right for you. But this is not a decision that needs to be made right away or all along. Your first step would be a simple phone consultation with our New Patient Coordinator. Here you can discuss your symptoms and history, ask all the questions you want and have her explain the protocols, fees and details of Treatment.

If you are interested in taking the next step in seeing if MeRT treatment is right for you, we can set up an appointment for an EEG (brain scan) and a second appointment for a consultation with the doctor to talk about your symptoms and the results of your EEG. Each of these appointments are about 45 minutes to an hour in length.

At the first appointment, our neuro-technician will perform an EEG and an EKG. Both are simple, painless, and non-invasive tests to see exactly what is happening in your brain.

At the second appointment, a few days later when your test results are in and have been analyzed, you will have a one on one consultation with the doctor. This appointment can be done virtually from the comfort of your own home. Here you will discuss your test results, answer any additional questions that you may have, and together determine if you (or your child, if this is about your child) are a candidate for treatment.

If you and the doctor then decide to move forward with MeRT, the next step is what we call the Assessment Period, where we will perform a short period of several days of treatment, followed by a new EEG to see how your child is responding to the treatment. This is assessed based on the new EEG results as compared to the initial one done before treatment started, as well as symptom improvements.

If there is a positive response to treatment during the assessment period, you will have likely noticed some improvements starting to take place, and we will then schedule for the additional treatment duration. Treatments are done daily, Monday to Friday in two-week increments. A typical treatment session takes about 45 minutes. The patient will sit in a chair while the neurotechnician administers the treatment via a hand-held magnet that is held near the scalp. The magnetic impulses are delivered for 6-8 seconds each minute. Your child may feel a slight sensation while the treatment is occurring, but it is not painful or uncomfortable. No medications are used and the patient is fully awake throughout.

MeRT treatments will usually go for anywhere from 6 – 8 weeks. In some cases, additional treatment time is recommended to get the best possible results from MeRT. Each individual is different, and protocols may vary. Your provider will have regularly scheduled follow-up EEGs and meet with you to closely manage your child’s progress.

Contact Our New Patient Coordinator for more Information

Our New Patient Coordinator is here for you. She will take the time to answer any questions that you may have, listen to your concerns, and carefully explain all of the details and information you need.

If after talking to her you are interested in further exploring whether your child could benefit from MeRT, the next step would be to schedule your EEG and a Consultation with our Doctor. With thorough diagnostics, the doctor can show you what is seen as happening in your child’s brain and what can be done to improve brain dysregulation. At this point it can be determined whether or not your child may benefit from MeRT Treatment and you can decide if you would like to move forward with treatment.

Call Our New Patient Coordinator to Learn More

(720) 586-4067

Or fill in the form below and we will contact you.

Insurance Coverage and Payment Options

We can provide you with the appropriate paperwork at the end of your treatment so that you can submit it to your insurance company to see if they would provide you with any reimbursement. Currently, TMS is FDA cleared for Depression and OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.) Treatment for all other conditions is considered “off label” at this time, though we are hopeful that treatment for TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) will be FDA cleared at some point in the next couple of years.

Some patients have reported that they have been able to receive some reimbursement for EEGs or clinical evaluations, depending on their health coverage. Medicare patients have reported that their coverage provides no reimbursement for MeRT. For non-FDA approved treatment, it is highly unlikely that any insurance will provide reimbursement for our protocols.

We take all major credit cards including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.

Life Can Be Better

You and your child can be at peace and enjoy life. With so many successful treatments of Autism, we encourage you to explore the possibilities of MeRT Treatment. It can have a lasting impact with greatly improved quality of life!

Testimonials*

“We had exhausted every available treatment hoping to help our daughter. Nothing worked – then we found Brain Treatment Center. MeRT changed everything for us.” – BTC patient parent of an autistic child

 

“We have a beautiful daughter, Raquel and she was diagnosed with severe autism at the young age of 1 ½ years. Rachel did not follow directions, she did not look into my eyes, she did not want to be touched, she did not speak, she did not listen or respond to her name, she did not distinguish me as her mother, and I could clearly feel she was very anxious all the time.

Desperate, and with the intention of doing my best to guarantee a better quality of life for my daughter, for 4 years I investigated and took all available routes to try to help her overcome her condition. I took her to different types of therapy (phonoaudiology, occupational, behavioral, and sensory integration), in addition to a diet regime free of casein and gluten. All these efforts were important and helped my daughter have small signs of improvement, but Raquel was far from making any significant progress – doctors still gave her the same severe diagnosis.

It was not until the fourth year of this endless quest that we finally came up with something that would change our lives, and the life of our daughter forever. When it seemed that all alternatives were exhausted, Dr. Jeff Bradstreet told me about a new therapy in Newport Beach, California, called MeRT, which consisted of repetitive brain stimulation through magnetic waves. There was already strong empirical evidence that they help to regulate brain functioning quickly, safely, effectively and permanently.

Dr. Bradstreet explained that there were 20% of people who, for some unknown reason, did not respond to treatment, but an 80% chance of improvement was definitely an opportunity that I was not willing to let go, especially if it had to do with the well-being of my girl.

I traveled to California and they explained what the treatment consisted of. Rachel was going to do an EEG (Electroencephalogram) to determine exactly what was happening in her brain so that they could design a treatment tailored to her needs.

The study confirmed that the front of her brain did not work properly so Rachel did not process the information like the other children. With the clearest panorama, and high optimism, I agreed to start treatment immediately. I could not wait to start.

On the first day of therapy I thought my daughter wouldn’t cooperate. To my surprise she seemed to enjoy the procedure. Obviously at the end of the day I saw no changes in her behavior, but I did not expect to see results so fast. The story takes a really unexpected turn for all of us at the end of the second day of therapy.

We went back to the house of some relatives, where we were spending the night, and Raquel approached me, with a glass between her little hands asking me to give her some “Juz”. There are no words that can express the emotions that I felt at that moment. All the people who know me ask me if I shed tears of joy in that moment. It was the first time I could say that I had heard the voice of my 4 year old daughter. Incredibly this was not all. A few minutes later my daughter went out to the garden of the house, approached a lemon tree, took one and brought it to her face to smell it. For a little girl who practically lived in the corner of the room, interacting with her shadow, this was a revelation, to the point that a few moments later, when her sister took the lemon from her hands, Raquel demanded loudly “My, Lemon?” Only two days of therapy had passed and we suddenly had what seemed, for the first time in her short life, a normal child.

At the end of the second week of treatment, we arrived at the Clinic excited and very eager to share with the medical staff the great advances that we had seen after the second therapy. The Director of Center approached me and asked me to accompany him to the game room where Raquel was. I will never forget that moment. He said, “Look at your daughter.” Raquel was there, sitting by a window. She was pointing to the passing cars and asking out loud: “Blue Car?”, “Green Car?”, also an airplane “Blue Plane with White?”

Most incredible of all was that not only had she improved her ability to communicate, but her emotional projection also took a 180-degree turn. My daughter now asked me to pick her up and carry her in my arms. She hugged me for the first time voluntarily and repeatedly for more than 15 minutes. Aside from improving in language, she also improved her emotional connection. They were the most beautiful 15 minutes of my life. My daughter recognized me and expressed it openly and freely for the first time.

Since that day she did not let me go, everything she wanted to do, was with me. When I realized these great changes I began to carry out other activities with my daughter. What I can not forget to mention is that Raquel’s anxiety did not allow us to take her anywhere. When we went to a mall, the screams were so loud that a man even asked if she needed an ambulance. To take her to the U.S. was horrible too, because customs officers could not understand how this girl could not calm down with her mother. After 3 weeks of therapy Raquel even tolerated going to Disney. That frightful part of our lives was over. Now I was free to walk with my daughter and she was for the first time able to enjoy the rides. I meditated about why God sent this miracle to me. I came to the conclusion that if Raquel did so well, it had to be for something greater than us. At the end of the Treatment and seeing the progress, I decided to meet with the key people of the company and asked them to send a MeRT machine to Panama. When I got to the office I sat down with them and explained that I would not be able to live without the machine that brought me so many miracles. It took a year, but we finally managed to open the doors of Brain Treatment Center in Panama, and provide thousands of people with a treatment that could be the change they sought in their lives, closer, more accessible and comfortable. – Raquel’s Mother *

For more Testimonials** including video testimonials, please see our Testimonials page

*Testimonials appearing on this website are received in various forms via a variety of submission methods. The testimonials reflect the real-life experiences of individuals who used our products. However, individual results may vary. We do not claim, nor should the reader assume, that any individual experience recounted is typical or representative of what any other consumer might experience. Testimonials are not necessarily representative of what anyone else using our products may experience. The people giving testimonials on this website may have been compensated with free products or discounts for use of their experiences.

The testimonials displayed are given verbatim except for grammatical or typing error corrections. Some testimonials may have been edited for clarity or shortened in cases where the original testimonial included extraneous information of no relevance to the general public. BTC is not responsible for the opinions or comments posted on this website and does not necessarily share the opinions, views or commentary of postings on this website. All opinions expressed are strictly the views of the poster or reviewer. All testimonials are reviewed for authenticity before they are posted for public viewing.

Testimonials on this website are not intended, nor should they be construed, as claims that the products or services mentioned can be used to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease. To the contrary, our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. No testimonial has been clinically proven or evaluated, and no medical claims whatsoever were made and no statements on this website have been evaluated by the FDA.

Call Our New Patient Coordinator to Learn More

(720) 586-4067

Or fill in the form above and we will contact you.