Autism

Of the countless therapies available for children with autism, none can improve brain function like Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy (MeRT), a personalized type of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The caring team at BrainCare Performance Center in Carlsbad, California, understand the unique challenges of autism. They devote extra time to completing diagnostic procedures and help make the TMS experience tolerable for sensitive kids. Call the office and talk with their New Patient Coordinator today, or connect online to request an appointment and learn how your autistic child can improve with MeRT.

What is autism?

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by differences in the brain. These differences cause the primary symptoms of autism: Limited interests and activities, difficulty communicating and socializing, and emotional and behavioral challenges.

What early signs appear if my child has autism? 

You may notice your child plays differently than other children their age and prefers to play alone. Other early signs include:

• Not pointing by 12 months
• Not using two-word phrases by 24 months
• Not responding to their name
• Not engaging in pretend play
• Not making eye contact
• Refusing to be hugged
• Having one intense interest, whether a toy, topic, movie, or TV show
• Having unusual movements (hand-flapping, rocking while sitting, finger flicking)
• Not sharing other children’s interests
• Struggling to make friends
• Over- or under-sensitive to smells, sounds, temperatures, and crowds

As your child gets older and starts talking, you may notice they can’t have a natural conversation. Instead, they monopolize conversations by talking about their one interest.

How is autism treated?

Parents can choose from many autism treatments, such as social skills therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), applied behavioral analysis (ABA), DIRFloortime®, and speech, occupational, and physical therapy (to name just a few).

Though there aren’t any medications for autism, your doctor may recommend medicines to treat challenges like aggression, irritability, depression, and anxiety.

There’s one thing you can’t achieve with conventional therapies. None of them directly target the brain and open up unused nerve pathways or improve brain function. But that’s what the BrainCare Performance Center team can accomplish with Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy (MeRT).

How does MeRT improve autism?

Children with autism receive information, but their brain’s processing center is too slow, resulting in overload (overwhelm).

BrainCare Performance Center treats that problem, beginning with a qualitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) to map your child’s brainwaves and identify underperforming areas.

Then they perform customized transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), sending safe, gentle magnetic waves into the problem area to stimulate the nerves and activate more processing power.

Even small, incremental improvements in your child’s brain activity can make dramatic improvements. The therapies you’re using may work faster. Your child may stop struggling with overwhelm and seem calmer. Or they may be more aware of their environment.

There are many small ways you may see behavioral and emotional improvements with MeRT treatment.

Call the office and talk to their New Patient Coordinator or connect online to learn more about MeRT for autism.