Autism Treatment with MeRT at BrainCare Carlsbad Can Unlock Your Child's Potential

At BrainCare Carlsbad, we're dedicated, too. We know that hope exists for children with autism, even when other treatments aren't working as well as expected.

That's because we offer MeRT (Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy), a drug-free, non-invasive, gentle treatment for autism. Of the countless treatments available for children with autism, none can improve brain function like MeRT.

Tailored to your child's needs, MeRT uses transcranial magnetic stimulation, guided by advanced brain diagnostics, to target and improve brainwave synchronization. In so doing, MeRT can also help other therapies work better, leading to a far better quality of life for your child.

The primary symptoms of autism include having limited interests and activities, difficulty communicating and socializing, and emotional and behavioral challenges.

However, each of these symptoms can present differently depending on the individual. For example, one child may have more trouble communicating than another, have greater sensory sensitivity, or have more intense repetitive behaviors.

Many treatments exist for ASD, including social skills therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), applied behavioral analysis (ABA), DIRFloortime®, and speech, occupational, and physical therapy.

Medications are also often prescribed to treat challenges like aggression, irritability, depression, and anxiety.

However, none of these therapies or medications directly target the brain to improve its function.

Every brain is unique — and that's what makes MeRT such a breakthrough. MeRT addresses the individual nature of autism by focusing on your child's unique brainwave activity.

Using MeRT, we can improve how the brain processes information. Here's how our treatment works:

1. We start with a quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) to map your child's brainwaves and identify underperforming areas.
2. We then perform customized repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). This treatment sends safe, gentle magnetic waves into specific area of the brain identified by the qEEG. The rTMS stimulates the nerves and activates more processing power.
3. After every two weeks of rTMS treatment, we perform another qEEG to see how your child's brain is responding. We then book additional treatments in two-week intervals if symptoms and brainwave patterns improve.

As we have worked with many children on the autism spectrum, we understand their unique challenges. That's why we devote extra time to completing diagnostic procedures and making the rTMS experience tolerable for sensitive kids.

Frank had tried many treatments before MeRT, but his son, Frankie, was still nonverbal and had severe toe-walking issues.

Frank had heard about the Brain Treatment Center, and when Frankie’s developmental pediatrician recommended it, Frank decided to take the chance.

After three weeks of MeRT treatment, things began to change for Frankie — dramatically:

"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."

Things continued to progress, and now Frankie attends public school and is doing well. As he put it, “You know, I'm so glad we went to the Brain Treatment Center. Now I can talk."

Many studies have shown the effectiveness of this treatment on autism symptoms; here are some of the most recent:

• A 2022 study reviewed the effectiveness of EEG-guided rTMS to treat ASD symptoms: "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."
• A 2020 review of 13 clinical trials found that rTMS appears to improve many ASD symptoms: "Recent reviews of the literature suggest that TMS is safe and effective when used in ASD."
• A 2019 study found that rTMS can improve brain activity and behavior in children with ASD: "In conclusion, the study showed that treatment with prefrontal low‐frequency rTMS improved brain functioning and behavioral symptoms in autism. rTMS might be a better alternative for patients with ASD who are not suitable for the psychopharmacological treatments."
• A 2016 report concluded that MeRT is a promising therapeutic option to treat ASD with minimal side effects: "Given our understanding of the EEG and the consistent abnormalities in the electrophysiology of children with ASD, we would suggest that MRT is an appropriate therapeutic option to further pursue."

Call us for a free consultation with our New Patient Coordinator. She will take as much time as you need to answer all your questions. She can also schedule you for testing and a consultation with the doctor to see if your child may benefit from MeRT treatment.

We are passionate about helping your child realize their full potential, and we know that MeRT can be an essential step in that direction.