MeRT for Autism
A Drug-free, Gentle Autism Treatment that may Improve Communication, Learning, and Independence
MeRT Treatment has been used to help Patients With Autism!
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.
Symptoms and their severity can vary wildly, which determines where a person is on 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.
This is why treatment with MeRT®, Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy, is highly customized based on sophisticated diagnostics and a non-invasive brain scan so that treatment can stimulate the exact right areas at the exact right frequency for each individual. No two brains are the same, and thus no two treatments are the same. These treatments are directed by Dr. Miller, a Neurologist with many years of experience working with MeRT and a Trusted Autism Doctor.
MeRT is a non-invasive neurological treatment that uses gentle magnetic waves to stimulate exactly targeted areas of the brain to improve connectivity and function.
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 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 and Plano.
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 autism 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, our Autism Doctor Dr. Miller, and his staff offer MeRT treatment for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder who are four 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.
The TMS equipment used is FDA-cleared to treat Major Depressive Disorder and OCD and is used off-label to treat other neurological-related conditions, including autism spectrum disorder.
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 with 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 cutting-edge treatment protocol combines technologies of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), 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, MeRTis 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 over many years show MeRT’s Effectiveness in Treating ASD Symptoms
Targeted 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. https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(24)08282-3
“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.”
Autism spectrum disorders: linking neuropathological findings to treatment with transcranial magnetic stimulation, published April 2015.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25626149/
“Several rTMS trials in ASD have shown marked improvements in motor symptomatology, attention and perceptual binding.
“Conclusion: rTMS is the first therapeutic attempt at ASD aimed at correcting some of its core pathology.”
Outcomes from Individual Alpha Frequency Guided Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder – A Retrospective Chart Review. – Uchenna Ezedinma1, Piotr Swierkowski2, Shauna Fjaagesund, 2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36367616/
“Conclusion: This study presents evidence on the efficacy and safety of α-rTMS in improving ASD symptoms, quality of life, and comorbid sleep troubles in children. However, these findings should be interpreted as preliminary pending the presentation of double-blind, randomized clinical trials.”
And more…
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Neuropathological Underpinnings and Clinical Correlations, published June 24, 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7477302/
“TMS is a non-invasive therapeutic intervention capable of modulating evoked and induced gamma oscillations and altering maladaptive behaviors83. Recent reviews of the literature suggest that TMS is safe and effective when used in ASD.”
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation modulates long-range functional connectivity in autism spectrum disorder, published April 2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36841084/
“The findings of this study demonstrate that high-frequency rTMS over the parietal lobe is potentially an effective strategy to improve core symptoms by enhancing long-range connectivity reorganization in ASD.”
Impact of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on the directed connectivity of autism EEG signals: a pilot study, published December 2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36282407/
“rTMS provides changes in connectivity and behavior, suggesting its potential use as a viable treatment option for ASD individuals.”
Meet Our Medical Director, Neurologist Dr. Spencer Miller
Dr. Miller and his talented team members are among the top in their field. They will work tirelessly to achieve exceptional results for you.
Dr. Spencer O. Miller, a Neurologist in Dallas, Texas, is the owner and Medical Director of Brain Treatment Centers in Dallas and Plano. He received his medical degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine and has been in practice for 12 years. He spent five of those years in the US Air Force, where he saw many brain injuries, including soldiers suffering from PTSD and TBI.
Dr. Miller is affiliated with Baylor University Medical Center, where he specializes in stroke, headache medicine, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and seizure. He is also associated with the Texas A&M Science Center College of Medicine.
Dr. Miller now specializes in MeRT (Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy) treatment of traumatic brain injury, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, dementia, autism, and multiple other brain disorders at his clinics, the Brain Treatment Centers in both Dallas and Plano. He also speaks multiple languages, including Spanish.
A Father tells his MeRT Story
In the third week, something happened. The family was driving around sight-seeing 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. He was so upset that it pushed these words through.”
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 earlier. 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.
Frank, father of a child with Autism
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
“We have just finished our first round of MeRT therapy. Very worthwhile for us so far. Gains so far: Our 5-year-old girl, who already has great language capabilities but would often not respond at all to us (low receptivity), started becoming very outspoken about what is on her mind and giving us way more insight into her thought processes and overall just way more responsive.
“I feel like I’m truly getting to know her for the first time. She has had more patience, and is more easily taking turns with toys when sharing with friends and siblings. She can now go with the flow much more and can be reasoned with if things don’t happen the same way as before or as she expected. And she’s less picky with food.
“There’s a heap more, but these are the main ones. The only tricky thing has been increased agitation and minor hitting, but that has since faded to zero. I think she had a lot of brain activity increase that might have caused her to feel overwhelmed temporarily.
“Also, I should say in addition to us parents, her Nana and uncles were taken aback by her responsiveness to them after our time away for the therapy. She would never say hello or goodbye and now says it all and engages in back-and-forth conversation with them, too.”
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
“3 months post-MERT, emotional regulation has improved dramatically. I can take him out on my own. Two of us went to the farm today as daddy was working and we enjoyed it. Walked by himself the whole time, no running away from me, would not go too far from me and would come back to me when I called.
“In the farm cafe, I even asked him to sit at the table looking after my bag and I went and got us a coke. He was aware and was holding my bag while remaining sitting and also looking at where I was to make sure I was in his sight (I was lining up at the counter to get the coke and he could see me from the table).
“The whole thing would not be possible one month ago as he would just run away from us if he saw things he liked (not aware of danger). He would just meltdown/run away if I insisted on holding his hand to stop him from running. He would lay down anywhere when having meltdowns even in the middle of traffic. We would always go out with dad so if he started running into traffic, daddy could pin him down.
“We have seen so many gains, but his gains have grown slowly and gradually. He just turned 4 in September. He has always been a fast learner, but after treatment he has been smashing all of his goals with his therapy.
“Good luck to all the parents. Hope is there.”
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 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 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 of time.
“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 that 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
“Before doing MeRT Therapy, I was very skeptical because I didn’t know how it would affect my son. We found out he was diagnosed with ASD at 3. He was starting to regress severely. At 5, he wouldn’t pay attention to his surroundings, wouldn’t react to his name being called, had no sense of awareness, no eye contact, became completely non-verbal, and had minor symptoms of ADHD.
“My husband and I did a lot of research before starting and were really nervous to start, seeing how much money it was going to cost us. However, we can now say that we are glad we took that leap of faith.
“Our son is now making eye contact when we speak with him, has gotten his first haircut without crying, is starting to be verbal by saying words, repeating words back from his tablet, humming and slightly singing, and it truly feels good to hear his voice again.
“His speech therapist says she is seeing much more progress compared to before and behavior has gotten way better in school.”
Mother 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 fascinating episode, Dr. Miller, who has worked with hundreds of MeRT patients, shares how this treatment works to reprogram electrical signals in the brain. Additionally, a mother 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 be about an hour in length.
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.
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 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 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.
