Drug-free, Gentle Autism Treatment to Improve Communication, Learning, and Independence

Autism Spectrum Disorder affects how a person perceives the outside world and interacts with others. This can cause issues with social interactions, communication skills, learning, and the ability to function independently. Autism can also cause a person to behave inappropriately in response to normal, everyday situations. Symptoms and their severity can vary wildly, which determines where a person is on the “spectrum.” Asperger’s Syndrome, for example, usually refers to the mild end of the spectrum.

Most children will show symptoms in the first year of life. However, others may develop normally and then regress between 18 and 24 months of age. This causes them to lose skills they’ve already learned, and take on other characteristics of Autism. 

Every child with Autism will have their own unique behavior patterns and severity levels, from high-functioning to low-functioning. Intelligence levels can vary from low to high. However, even if they have high levels of intelligence and learn quickly, they still may lack common sense and adequate social skills. Additionally, they may not communicate well or have appropriate responses to everyday situations.

“Immanuel has made such strides socially…”

We are dropping a line to thank you, Naomi, and Carlos 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. 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 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 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. 

MeRT Treatment for Autism in Dallas

Early diagnosis and intervention are most helpful and can help improve social skills, behavior, and language. Children rarely outgrow Autism, however, they can learn to function very well. There are several therapies that can help, and the earlier, the better. It’s important to find a medical team that can assist on many levels. After all, your child has tremendous potential… if you could only unlock it.

Here at the Brain Treatment Center Dallas, Dr. Miller and his staff offer MeRT treatment for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder who are five years and older. 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. 

MeRT is a unique and improved version of TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation), is a much more individualized approach to brain modulation, and is tailored to the patient’s needs based on frequency, location, and power used. TMS modulates the brain’s electrical activity by using magnetic fields which pass through the scalp from an electromagnetic coil. However, it is important to note that TMS is a generalized approach to neuromodulation because it can only target a single location in the brain with a single frequency.

While the equipment used in the MeRT is FDA-cleared for the treatment of drug-resistant depression, it may also be used off-label for other disorders in the practice of medicine. These include Autism and other brain disorders. Patients have reported incredible and ongoing improvement for those afflicted with Autism Spectrum Disorder.*

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 cutting-edge treatment protocol combines technologies of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS, an FDA cleared therapy), Quantitative Electroencephalogram (qEEG), and Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) to analyze and formulate treatments tailored for each individual’s unique brain pattern.

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 testings 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.*

Dr. Miller speaks about MeRT on “The Doctors” TV Show

The Doctors TV Show featured MeRT as a new treatment for Autism. See the full video here.

 Read what the Korczak Family Has to Say …

As parents, we always want the best for our children. Watching our son become frustrated due to his inability to speak and sensory processing issues have been heartbreaking at times. 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, beginning February 2022, 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) to our son and our family.

They are always available for questions and concerns, and truly support all patients and their families. We believe in MeRT so much that we will be returning for four weeks of treatment in November 2022. For our family, MeRT and the Brain Treatment Center in Dallas has been a journey worth the endeavor!” – the Korczak family

Here’s one Mother’s Story…

Life was completely miserable. “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.

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 “Juice”. 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.

We knew at that point that the frightening part of our lives was over,” said Miriam. “It’s truly a miracle.”

*The Results shown are based on active and strict observation of our regimens. Results may vary based on the individual user and are not guaranteed.

Contact our New Patient Coordinator for more Information.

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 be able to help so many people realize a much better “normal” and a greatly 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 is able to answer most questions and discuss our protocols, scheduling, fees, and other information. 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 be able to help you with your health goals and to schedule an initial screening to see if MeRT may be an option.

Call 214-972-0126

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 be about an hour in length. These appointments will be used to determine if Dr. Miller feels you can truly benefit from the MeRT [Magnetic e-Resonance Treatment] Program and, if so, to develop a tailored treatment plan based on your test results. After testing and Consultation, you are not obliged to begin treatment. This is something that you will determine once you have seen your test results and consulted with Dr. Miller.

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 serve to answer any additional questions you may have. After that second appointment, Dr. Miller will lay out 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.

Insurance Coverage

Unfortunately, we do not accept insurance, nor file it on your behalf. However, we can provide you with CPT codes and a billing breakdown. You can submit these to your insurance for possible reimbursement for conditions that have been FDA-cleared such as Major Depressive Disorder and OCD. On occasion, individuals have been successful in receiving reimbursement for EEGs and clinical evaluations, and possibly other elements for treatment, depending on the individual’s coverage. It has been our experience that Medicare does not reimburse any of the treatment costs. 

For conditions other than Major Depressive Disorder and OCD, because treatment is considered “off-label,” insurance rarely reimburses any of the costs associated with treatment. 

Protocol Adjustments for COVID-19

The Brain Treatment Center Dallas is open for business. In accordance with government regulations and for the safety of our patients, we have implemented the following procedures:

• • We respectfully ask that if you are sick or experiencing any symptoms of illness, you postpone your visit until you have been symptom-free for at least 14-days.
  • Dr. Miller and our staff are fully vaccinated. 
  • International patients, please ask us about protocols that are specific to your situation.
  • We will disinfect the clinic between patient visits in order to keep your risk to a minimum.
  • All patients (except for children who are unable) are required to wear masks when entering the clinic.  
  • Dr. Miller is offering virtual consultations via Spruce or Skype, both of which are HIPAA compliant. In this way, you can have your appointment from the comfort of your own home. We conduct these visits via telemedicine so Dr. Miller will be right in front of you, just as if you were seeing him in person. If you prefer an in-clinic consultation, we ask that you follow our social distancing protocols. 

We value our patients and want to make sure that you can still receive your treatment in a timely manner. However, because of the concerns regarding COVID-19, we ask that you please adhere to the temporary procedures that we have implemented for everyone’s safety. 

Call our New Patient Coordinator at

214-972-0126

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

*The Results shown are based on active and strict observation of our regimens. Results may vary based on the individual users and are not guaranteed.

Common Signs and Symptoms of Autism Include:

• Doesn’t respond to their name and doesn’t always hear when spoken to.
• Seems to live in their own world and resists physical contact, such as hugging or cuddling.
• Not being able to speak, or having the delayed ability to speak. They can also lose a previous ability to say words.
• Doesn’t make eye contact and lacks expression.
• Uses an abnormal rhythm such as robotic speech.
• Repeats words or phrases without understanding their meaning.
• Doesn’t understand simple questions.
• Doesn’t express emotions or have compassion for others’ feelings.
• Acts out inappropriately in social situations, such as being disruptive.
• Doesn’t understand nonverbal clues or body language.
• Repetitive movements like rocking back and forth.
• Performs self-harming activities such as head-banging or biting themselves.
• Clumsiness or moving in odd ways, being stiff.
• Extremely routine-orientated and becoming upset or disruptive with the smallest changes.
• Sensitivity to lights or sounds, but may not seem to feel actual pain.
• Abnormal fixation on objects or parts of objects even if they don’t understand what the object is.

When children are on the mild end of the spectrum, they have a better chance of becoming more engaged in relationships and have fewer behavioral disturbances. Others that are on the moderate-to-severe end of the spectrum will have problems with communication and social skills. Teenaged years can bring increased issues with behavior and emotional problems. However, according to patients (or their parents), MeRT has been life-changing.*

Causes of Autism

Currently, there is no known single cause of Autism Spectrum Disorder, however inherited genetic factors account for approximately 80% of those at risk for Autism, according to a study published by the National Institute of Health.

Scientists are also researching whether environmental factors may play a role such as viral infections, complications in pregnancy, or medications. There have been NO reliable studies that show a link between Autism and the use of vaccines.