MeRT for Autism Treatment in Dallas
A gentle, drug-free, EEG-guided rTMS therapy that may support communication, learning, and independence
MeRT: Because Every Brain on the Autism Spectrum Is Unique
Autism spectrum disorder affects how people process information and interact with the world, which can influence communication, learning, emotional regulation, and daily functioning. The way autism presents varies widely from person to person, with differences in strengths, challenges, and developmental patterns.
Because no two brains function the same way, treatment should not follow a single standardized approach. MeRT® (Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy) is a personalized, EEG-guided form of rTMS that uses detailed brain mapping to identify areas that may disrupt brain communication. This data is used to guide gentle, noninvasive magnetic stimulation tailored to each individual’s brain activity.
At Brain Treatment Center Dallas, MeRT treatment is directed by Dr. Spencer Miller, a board-certified neurologist with extensive experience using EEG-guided rTMS and a Trusted Autism Doctor.
By individualizing treatment based on objective brain data, MeRT is designed to support healthier brain connectivity and function over time.
Contact our New Patient Coordinator
for more information. Or fill out the form below.
“Immanuel has made such strides socially…”
We are dropping a line to thank you for your help last summer with Immanuel. We’re RVing this weekend and marveling at how well Immanuel now socializes with other children at the campsite.
Last year around the same time, 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 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 Texas. She says that he has been crushing the prescribed program—he scored significantly above expectations at the latest eval. And he’s speeding through the stages.
We’re thrilled with Immanuel’s progress and the fact that he can play with other kids. He’s had numerous playdates 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 guiding us through the process. We looked forward to the summer.” – David and Debbie J.
MeRT Treatment for Autism in Dallas
Early support can play an important role in helping children with autism develop skills related to communication, learning, and daily functioning. While autism is a lifelong neurological difference, many children benefit from therapies that support how the brain processes and responds to information—especially with coordinated, individualized care.
At Brain Treatment Center Dallas, Dr. Miller and team offer EEG-guided rTMS (MeRT) as a noninvasive, drug-free option for those on the autism spectrum ages four and older. Treatment is designed with sensory sensitivity in mind and delivered in a calm, supportive clinical setting to help children feel as comfortable as possible during sessions.
Unlike standard rTMS, which uses a fixed stimulation approach, MeRT uses brain mapping data to individualize the timing and location of stimulation. The neuromodulation equipment used is FDA-cleared for major depressive disorder and OCD and may be used off-label in the practice of medicine for other neurological conditions, including autism. This personalized approach allows care to be adapted to each child’s unique brain activity rather than relying on a generalized protocol.
We care about every child and hold them in the highest regard. That’s why we ensure each child has the best possible experience during treatment. Fortunately, MeRT is drug-free, non-invasive, and gentle, which makes it much more comfortable for a child on the autism spectrum.
It was a great experience with a very friendly and professional staff! When we first brought our child to the clinic, we expected some progress with her speech skills, but we ended up getting results in other unexpected areas. The first change we saw with our daughter was that she started to make eye contact and then, she started to be more aware of her surroundings. Second, she stopped stimming, which was the biggest change for her! Third, but not least, she started to socialize and play with other children!” – Beatriz Yanez
Hear it from Dr. Miller
Autism… has a very specific EEG [brain scan] pattern that we’ve recognized in the past several years.
A lot of learning difficulties stem from broken frontal lobes or broken language centers in the temporal lobes. And when we recognize that and correlate it with an EEG, we can then formulate a very specific plan for treatment of that patient.
We have seen some very impressive results in the treatment of autism with MeRT.”
– Dr. Spencer O. Miller, Neurologist, Owner and Medical Director of Brain Treatment Center Dallas
How MeRT Works
MeRT stands for Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy. This emerging treatment protocol combines Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Quantitative Electroencephalogram (qEEG), and Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) to analyze brain patterns and tailor treatments to each individual’s unique profile.
Most TMS treatments deliver stimulation to one area of the brain at a fixed frequency for all patients, however, MeRT is more evolved. We tailor treatment frequency and location based on initial thorough testing and evaluation. This customized, scientific approach is unique to each patient.
We carefully analyze each patient’s initial tests as to the brain’s pattern of function and activity. Through this detailed analysis, we can determine the correct neural synchronization. We then use this information to devise a highly personalized protocol to improve brain communication. This can lead to significant clinical symptom improvements.*
Treatment for Autism usually lasts for six to eight weeks and may require a follow-up annually. Appointments are 30 to 45 minutes, Monday through Friday. Generally, the patient will begin to notice improvements during the first few weeks.*
Contact our New Patient Coordinator
for more information. Or fill out the form below.
Multiple Research Studies Show MeRT’s Effectiveness in Treating ASD Symptoms
Targeted, EEG-guided rTMS (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation) is a key element of MeRT treatment. Many studies have shown the effectiveness of rTMS for autism treatment. Here are just some of these:
A systematic review of transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment for autism spectrum disorder, published May 31, 2024
After TMS intervention, discernible enhancements across a spectrum of scales are evident in stereotyped behavior, repetitive behavior, and verbal social domains. A comprehensive review of literature spanning the last five years demonstrates the potential of TMS treatment for ASD in ameliorating the clinical core symptoms.
“Recent findings generally indicate that TMS has positive effects on stereotypical behavior, repetitive behavior, verbal and social aspects of ASD, leading to overall improvement across all scale scores post-intervention.”
A clinical trial of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in autism spectrum disorder
This is a huge research study currently being conducted in Australia.
TMS is a safe and non-invasive means of stimulating nerve cells in a particular part of the brain via the administration of brief magnetic pulses. TMS has been developed for a range of conditions, including depression.”
Non-invasive EEG-EKG Guided Trans-magnetic Stimulation at Natural Resonance Frequency in Children with Autism: Randomized Double-blinded Pilot Study
Following 5 weeks of EEG-EKG guided trans-magnetic stimulation, significant changes in symptom severity and EEG measures are reported for 28 children with autism spectrum disorder. … This suggests that EKG-EEG guided TMS may be effective at mitigating averse sensory misperceptions common in ASD.”
Noninvasive reduction of neural rigidity alters autistic behaviors in humans, published June 6, 2025
Autistic behaviors correlate with reductions in specific brain-state transitions in global neural dynamics, implying that the mitigation of such rigid brain dynamics may alter autistic traits. To examine this possibility, we investigated longitudinal behavioral effects of state-dependent transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in autistic adults. We found that excitatory TMS over the right parietal lobule decreased neural rigidity, which commensurately reduced social and nonsocial autistic behaviors…. These results indicate that alteration of neural rigidity could change multiple autistic traits.”
TMS Therapy Holds Promise for Autism, updated June 17, 2025
This 12-session protocol reduced neural rigidity as shown by EEG findings and improved all three test measures. Neural rigidity and cognitive flexibility improved earliest (by week 1), perceptual overstability by week 7, and nonverbal information processing by week 9.”
“This pioneering approach using TMS timed to EEG measurements can be implemented in clinical settings with additional development and advances our understanding of ASD pathophysiology.”
Autism Care Led by an Experienced Neurologist
Dr. Spencer Miller is a board-certified neurologist with extensive experience treating complex brain-based conditions, including autism spectrum disorder. He is the Medical Director of the Brain Treatment Centers in Dallas, Plano, and Fort Worth.
Dr. Miller completed his medical training at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine and has more than 15 years of clinical experience, including five years serving in the U.S. Air Force, where he worked with individuals affected by traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.
He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and affiliated with Baylor University Medical Center, with additional academic involvement at the Texas A&M Science Center College of Medicine.
In his work with children and families, Dr. Miller focuses on EEG-guided rTMS (MeRT) as a personalized, data-driven approach to autism care. Treatment decisions are guided by detailed brain mapping and adjusted over time based on each child’s response, with an emphasis on safety, comfort, and individualized support throughout the process.
A Father Shares His MeRT Story
Excerpted from Autism Parenting Magazine
“In the third week, something happened. The family was driving around sightseeing when they realized that they were getting lost in the California desert. Mary and Frank began to argue, and right in the midst of it, the moment they had waited six years for finally came. ‘I remember he said a seven-word sentence basically to the effect of, “I want you two to stop fighting.” And it shocked me so much that I almost stopped breathing,’ Frank recounts. ‘I looked at my wife and said, “Do you realize what just happened? He just said a seven-word sentence.” I had tears in my eyes, and I was happy at the same time.’
“From there, Frankie’s progress snowballed. They returned home after only a month, but the difference between the child who arrived in California and the one who left was striking. They had taken a video of Frankie on the plane when they started the journey, ‘and he’s just making baby babble,’ Frank says. ‘We have another video of him on the plane coming back. And he looks out the window and says, “Goodbye, California, see you soon.” This was a nonverbal kid, 30 days later. And his feet are flat on the ground.’
“Doctors said Frankie would continue to improve even without regular MeRT, albeit a bit slower. Today, he is 11 years old, verbal, and attends a public school. He tells Frank stories about times when he wanted to speak but couldn’t. ‘He goes, “You know, I’m so glad we went to the brain treatment [center] because now I can talk,”’ says Frank.
Contact our New Patient Coordinator
for more information. Or fill out the form below.
Successes
The following testimonials show some of the incredible results people are getting from MeRT treatment for Autism at the Brain Treatment Center.
“After trying various treatments and conducting thorough research, we decided to travel from our home in Illinois to the Brain Treatment Center in Dallas. It was the BEST decision we could have made for our six-year-old son, who has severe apraxia and is on the spectrum.
“After six weeks of MeRT treatment, our son said his name for the first time! He has been more flexible with his daily schedule, OCD tendencies have lessened tremendously, and he does not become as anxious as he had previously experienced in new places and surroundings.
“We cannot thank Dr. Miller and his staff enough for the kindness, care, and genuine concern they have shown (and continue to show) our son and our family. They are always available for questions, concerns, and they truly support all patients and their families. For our family, MeRT and the Brain Treatment Center have been a journey worth the endeavor!”
the Korczak family
Parents of child with autism“My experience here has been life-changing. My 15-year-old son with autism, after only three weeks of treatment, has already begun to show great improvement.
“He is less aggressive, his speech is more fluent, and he is finally sleeping throughout the night. It’s like a light switch has been turned on.”
Parent of a child with autism
“My daughter was non-verbal before MeRT. We had MeRT on August 14-September 8, 2023. She started repeating what I said (in Spanish) yesterday! I can only credit MeRT for this!”
Mother of a child with autism
“Last day of MeRT! He had a six-week treatment. Had great feedback from his teachers about how he is so much more alert and engaged than they have ever seen him. Huge improvement in mood, much less irritated, and his depression is gone after 4 years! Benefits continue to come post-treatment. I think in 3-4 months, I will do another qEEG and track his post-treatment.”
Parent of a child with autism
“We did six weeks of MeRT, and the last session finished last week. Major gains we have seen:
“Speech would be the biggest part, trying to describe things and trying to form sentences; his therapist is shocked at how much he is talking now.
“Sleep: my child slept well prior to MeRT, but there was lots of flipping around the middle of the night. Now, no more flipping; sleeps through the night for 10-12 hours (wow, I know).
“Hyperactivity has reduced. He is playing more games and stays in the same game for a longer period.
“He’s trying more varieties of food and will ask to try new food.”
Parent of a child with autism
“My kiddo is finishing up her last two weeks of treatment and I cannot be more excited about the gains/progress we have had in the last six weeks. She was very aggressive, had high anxiety, and had no eye contact when talking. One to two words when communicating. Now we can have a relay back-and-forth conversation at least three times with a lot more words. No meltdowns.
“She has become more social with her sibling and peers at school. Better sleep hygiene. Independent with her hygiene morning routine and improvements in school.
“We will do maintenance at the end of the summer for 2-4 weeks.”
Mother of a child with autism
“My 10-year-old daughter just finished MERT. Even though she is an older kid, the change in the back of the brain was pretty significant, and in the middle and front parts, we see better alpha and lower theta and beta.
“I am good with the charts. How about in real life? We will see when she goes back to school next week. But we see better speech, more patience, better play time with her younger sister, and better understanding and follow up on directions given.
“Side effect? Didn’t see any headaches or anything. She got really ‘hangry,’ but after the last session, that is gone. The clinic explained it was normal as the therapy was pushing the brain to work out, so she might have felt more hunger.”
Parent of a child with autism
Watch this show and find out how MeRT treatment can provide new hope for parents who have tried everything for their child with ASD.
Dr. Spencer Miller Discusses MeRT on “The Doctors” TV Show
Dr. Miller spoke about MeRT treatment as a breakthrough autism treatment on an episode of “The Doctors.” In this episode, Dr. Miller, who has worked with hundreds of MeRT patients, explains how this treatment reprograms electrical signals in the brain. A mother also shares her incredible story about her daughter and the results of MeRT when used for Autism Therapy.
Starting as a New Patient
When you start as a new patient at the Brain Treatment Center Dallas, you will initially need two appointments, approximately two days apart. Both appointments will last about an hour.
Initial Testing
At the first appointment, we will go over your reasons for seeking help, your medical history, your health goals, and all of your symptoms. You will then begin initial testing, which will involve an EEG and an EKG. These are both completely painless and easy and done right in our office. We then send your information and test results to our scientific and clinical teams, who will carefully analyze the results and determine the current state and functioning of the brain together with Dr. Miller.
We use a patented, scientific approach with the neurophysiological data gathered through testing to develop a highly customized treatment plan aimed at encouraging healthy brain communication and function.
Consultation
At your second appointment, you will meet with Dr. Miller for a Consultation. He will discuss your test results and whether he and our scientific team feel you may achieve results through our treatment protocol. This appointment will also address questions you may have.
After the second appointment, Dr. Miller will outline your individualized treatment plan and the protocols to be followed for the best results. At that point, you may discuss fees, length of treatment, and schedules, and then decide whether to go forward and schedule your treatment.
Test Run – The Assessment
We deliver the MeRT protocol using TMS. You simply sit in a comfortable chair while a trained technician carefully positions a simple device on your head. This device produces a magnetic field to induce mild electrical currents in the targeted regions of the brain. There is no pain and no electrical currents, just a slight sensation.
We will perform an additional EEG and EKG after about a week of treatment, allowing us to assess progress and make any needed modifications. In this way, we are always taking the best and most exacting approach based on the current neurological state.
Contact our New Patient Coordinator for More Information about MeRT
When many patients come to see us, they have lost hope, as they don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel.
It’s rewarding as a practitioner to help so many people realize a much better “normal” and improved quality of life.
If you have questions or would like to discuss our treatment protocols, we offer a free consultation by phone.
Our New Patient Coordinator will take the time to listen and explain. She can answer most questions and discuss our protocols, scheduling, fees, and other relevant details. She is happy to assist you in any way she can.
Please call us to get more information about how our clinic and Dr. Miller may help you with your health goals and to schedule an initial screening to see if MeRT may be an option.
Contact our New Patient Coordinator
for more information. Or fill out the form below.
