Autism Treatment with MeRT
A Drug-free, Gentle Autism Treatment. We have seen results such as better communication, improved learning and independence.
Gentle, Non-Invasive Magnetic Waves Stimulate the Unused or Blocked Pathways in the Brain
More Connection | Better Understanding | Improved Mood
MeRT (Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy) has been used for Autism for some years now and our Board Certified Neurologist has had some incredible breakthroughs with this state-of-the-art treatment.
Everyone wants their child to be able to live their best life. Depending on where your child is on the spectrum, they may experience deficits in social interactions, difficulty communicating, and restricted and repetitive patterns of activities or interests. Dr Miller uses a non-invasive and pain free EEG (Brain scan) to see the pattern in the brain and then he designs a gentle magnetic stimulation that fits the unique pattern of that brain. MeRT Autism treatment stimulates unused pathways in the brain, opens up neurological areas and can result in better communication, better retention and learning, and improved sleep. MeRT gives improvement all on its own, the brain is processing faster and there is less overwhelm. But this also opens to door to increased benefits from other therapies such as ABA.
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New Patient Coordinator
Or fill in the form at the bottom of the page for more information.
After six weeks of MeRT treatment, beginning in 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) our son and our family.” – Korczak Family, After MeRT for Autism
What is MeRT? A Personalized Approach to Gentle Brain Stimulation
Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy (MeRT) is a highly customized, non-invasive form of brain stimulation using gentle magnetic waves designed to activate specific areas of the brain that may not be connecting or communicating as they should. Unlike standard approaches, MeRT focuses on individualized treatment, aiming to restore optimal brain communication and function.
Research has shown that targeted forms of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) can be beneficial for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). MeRT takes this a step further by tailoring the therapy to each person’s unique brain activity, making it even more effecting. And MeRT can often enhance the effectiveness of complementary treatments such as ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy.
The process begins with a detailed qEEG (brain scan) to map brainwave activity and identify areas needing support. Based on this data, a personalized protocol is created, adjusting stimulation frequency, location, and intensity to meet the specific neurological needs of each patient.
By customizing treatment in this way, MeRT offers a precise, non-invasive, and highly focused approach to supporting brain health and development.
Medical Director, Board-Certified Neurologist Dr. Miller
Dr. Spencer O. Miller is the owner and Medical Director of the Brain Treatment Center Fort Worth as well as the Brain Treatment Centers in Dallas and Plano. He is a board-certified neurologist, who has been in practice for 15 years.
Dr. Miller has been working with neuro-diverse children for over 5 years and has had hundreds of successes with the gentle magnetic stimulation he uses. He has found that the highly customized magnetic stimulation used by MeRT® (Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy) has a powerful effect in terms of opening up unused neural pathways. He has seen some amazing results.
He is also affiliated with Baylor University Medical Center, where he specializes in stroke, headache medicine, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and seizure.
Dr Miller Would Like to Introduce Himself
We understand that MeRT magnetic therapy is new. We would like to meet with you and perform the initial qEEG where we create a map of your brain’s electrical energy. Think of it like a weather map. We can see where the weather is calm and where it is stormy. That allows us to great a completely unique treatment using our FDA approved magnet. This treatment is a form of TMS, which is already FDA approved for Major Depressive Disorder and OCD. I use this treatment off-label for neurodiversity because I have seen it work miracles. Not every time, but often enough that it made me a believer.
Contact our
New Patient Coordinator
Or fill in the form at the bottom of the page for more information.
How MeRT Supports Children with Autism
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) presents uniquely in every individual—no two people experience it in exactly the same way. However, many individuals with ASD share certain neurological patterns that can affect how they perceive the world, interact with others, learn, and manage daily life. These challenges often include difficulties with communication, social connection, and independent functioning.
Using a quantitative EEG (qEEG), clinicians can observe distinct brainwave activity associated with Autism. While neurotypical brain patterns tend to show dominant alpha waves, children with Autism often exhibit an irregular mix of elevated beta activity combined with slower delta and theta waves—indicating disrupted neural communication.
MeRT (Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy) works by neuromodulating these brainwave patterns. Through precisely targeted gentle magnetic stimulation, MeRT helps improve synchronization and connectivity within the brain, leading to more organized and efficient neural activity.
As brain function improves, many children experience gains in communication, social interaction, eye contact, emotional regulation, less stimming, and more independence. While results do vary from individual to individual, very often these changes not only enhance the child’s quality of life but also offer meaningful relief and hope to families and caregivers navigating the journey of Autism.
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New Patient Coordinator
Or fill in the form at the bottom of the page for more information.
Not Just for Children – Teens and Adults Benefit Too
MeRT isn’t limited to young children. Adults and teens with Autism can also experience powerful results, including improved social interactions, emotional balance, and cognitive function. Whether for a child, teen, or an adult, MeRT offers a personalized path to a higher quality of life.
At The Brain Treatment Center Fort Worth, we are proud to offer this transformative therapy and walk alongside families on their journey toward hope and healing.
MeRT: A Breakthrough Therapy for Improving Brain Function in Autism
Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy (MeRT) is a non-invasive, drug-free, painless treatment that has helped thousands of patients around the world experience meaningful improvements in brain function and quality of life.
Targeting Brain Function for Real Results
The core goal of MeRT is to optimize how the brain functions by restoring healthier communication between brain regions. Many individuals on the autism spectrum who have undergone MeRT have reported significant changes that positively impact daily living. Common benefits include:
- Greater sociability and engagement
- Reduced anxiety, frustration, and repetitive behaviors
- Improved communication and expressive language
- Enhanced presence and awareness of surroundings
- Stronger emotional connections with others
- Increased independence and self-confidence
- Better comprehension and response to instructions
- Greater adaptability in new or changing environments
- Improved coping strategies for stress
- Boosted motivation and learning capacity
- More consistent mood and emotional regulation
- Longer attention spans and better focus
- Enhanced relaxation and calmness
- Greater effectiveness of other Autism therapies
While no single therapy is a universal solution, MeRT has shown tremendous promise in helping individuals maximize the benefits of other autism interventions, such as ABA or speech therapy. By promoting healthier brain activity, MeRT can create a stronger foundation for progress across all areas of development.
What is MeRT?
MeRT stands for Magnetic Resonance Therapy. MeRT is a tailored, highly individualized form of rTMS or repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. In simpler terms, we use magnetic waves to stimulate specifically targeted areas of the brain that have been found to not be communicating or functioning optimally.
It is painless and completely non-invasive. You are fully conscious, and there are no drugs or anesthesia involved. It’s simply magnetic waves that stimulate and balance the neurological functioning of your brain.
This is determined through sophisticated diagnostic tools and imaging and is used to plan a tailored treatment approach just for you. MeRT is an emerging technology that aims to improve brain function and communication.
The TMS equipment used is FDA-cleared to treat Major Depressive Disorder and OCD and is used off-label to treat a wide variety of conditions, including autism spectrum disorder.
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New Patient Coordinator
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There have been many Research Studies that show the use of TMS as effective in Treating ASD Symptoms
MeRT is essentially rTMS (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation) that is guided by brain scan (qEEG) results. There have been multitudes of studies that have shown benefits 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.”
MeRT Autism Treatment was Featured on “The Doctors” TV show
Many children with Autism have seen miraculous results after going through MeRT treatment.* “The Doctors” TV show interviewed Dr. Spencer O. Miller, who has been using this treatment for several years, and also spoke to some moms of kids with autism and hearing their stories and the results they saw.
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
Or fill in the form at the bottom of the page for more information.
Finding out if MeRT Autism Treatment is something to explore…
We understand that considering a treatment that you don’t know that much about can be daunting and you may feel quite uncertain about whether this is right for you. So the first easy step is to start with a simple phone consultation with our New Patient Coordinator. Here you can discuss your symptoms and history, ask all the questions you want and have her explain the protocols, fees and details of Treatment.
Step 1
Testing and Consultation
If after this you are interested taking the next step in seeing if MeRT treatment is right for you or your child, we will initially schedule two appointments, both of which are about 45 minutes in length. At the first appointment, our neuro-technician will perform a EEG and an EKG. Both are simple, painless and non-invasive tests to see exactly what is happening in your brain. At the second appointment, a few days later when your test results are in and have been analyzed, you will have a one on one consultation with the doctor. Here you will discuss your test results, ask any additional questions that you may have, and together determine if you (or your child, if this is about your child) are a candidate for treatment.
If you are uncertain whether MeRT is the right treatment for you, the testing and consultation will allow both you and the doctor to decide if your child may benefit from Magnetic eResonance Therapy.
Step 2
The Assessment Period
If you and the doctor decide to move forward with MeRT, the next step is what we call the Assessment Period, where we will perform a initial period of treatment, followed by a new EEG to see if you or your child are responding to the treatment.
During this assessment, we are looking for any clinical changes and confirmation of a positive response to the treatment. You (or your child) will likely notice improvements starting to take place. At the end of the assessment period, we will perform another qEEG/EKG to confirm that changes are also showing in the brain. This is assessed based on the new EEG results as compared to the initial one done before treatment started, as well as symptom improvements.
Step 3
Continuing Treatment
If positive changes are observed during the initial assessment period, this often indicates that the brain is responding well to MeRT. At that point, we can move forward with scheduling the next phase of therapy. Treatments are conducted Monday through Friday in two-week increments, with each session lasting approximately 45 minutes.
During a session, your child will sit comfortably while a trained neurotechnician administers the therapy using a small, hand-held magnetic device positioned near the scalp. The device emits gentle magnetic pulses for about 6–8 seconds each minute. Most children feel only a mild sensation during this process, and the treatment is neither painful nor distressing. No medications or sedation are used—your child remains awake and alert the entire time.
A typical course of MeRT lasts between 6 to 8 weeks, although some individuals may benefit from additional sessions to achieve the most effective results. Because each brain is unique, treatment protocols are personalized and may be adjusted as needed.
Throughout the treatment period, we’ll monitor your child’s progress closely with regular EEG evaluations and check-ins with your provider to ensure the therapy remains effective and well-tailored to their needs.
Just a few of the many Testimonials about MeRT Treatment for Autism
“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. Then she started to be more aware of her surroundings. Second, she stopped stemming, and that was the biggest change for her. Third, but not least, she started to socialize and play with other children!”
Beatriz Yanez
Mother of a child with autism“We are glad we chose BTC Dallas over other BTC centers. BTC Dallas is excellent because of the people there. From Leader & Specialist Dr. Miller to Front Desk warrior Mrs. Jenny, from always on her toes Jenae to cheerful Julie, Erica & Jen, everybody didn’t leave a moment to make us feel comfortable.
“We were sad traveling back to Canada as BTC Dallas felt like home to us! We still remember that everybody at both ends had tears in their eyes on the last day.
“At last, we want to say that you guys have earned our respect, and we are grateful for everything. Dr. Miller, thank you for changing our lives!”
Cheenu Mehra
“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
“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.”
Parents 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!”
Mpther of a child with autism
“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 and concerns, and they truly support all patients and their families.
“For our family, MeRT and the Brain Treatment Center has been a journey worth the endeavor!”
the Korczak family
Parents of 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.”
Parents 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.”
Mpther 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
“We have been trying to find time between our crazy schedules to write this message because every word we register here will come from our hearts filled with a lot of respect and gratitude for each one of you there.
“Not so long ago, we made one of our most important and courageous decisions to take not-so-common MeRT treatment for our daughter Iskra, which required intensive travel, relocation to another country for two months, and a substantial financial commitment. We are glad we took this step in our lives and went through 6 weeks of treatment, which has changed Iskra’s and our lives.
“She is very much attached to her father and her grandparents. She adapts to a new schedule very quickly, which was the most challenging thing in the past. Her attention span towards tasks has increased. She is not a grumpy child anymore. She sleeps like a log. No more waking up in the middle of the night and crying hysterically.
“Iskra has been listening and following our commands. She communicates when she needs help and tells us what she wants. She responds without a second delay to our commands. Yes, we did sit in a restaurant as a family and had lunch together.”
MeRT patient
“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 — then, she started to be more aware of her surroundings. Second, she stopped stemming, and that was the biggest change for her. Third but not least, she started to socialize and play with other children!”
Mother of a 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
“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
“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.”
Mpther of a child with autism
*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.
Contact our New Patient Coordinator for More Information about MeRT
We’re Here to Help – No Pressure, Just Support
Our dedicated New Patient Coordinator is available Monday through Friday to answer any questions you may have—no pressure, no obligation. Whether you’re curious about how MeRT works, want details on the treatment process, or have questions about pricing or insurance, she’s here to provide clear, compassionate guidance.
If you decide you’d like to explore MeRT further, she can assist in scheduling your next steps. This includes a non-invasive brain scan (qEEG) followed by a consultation a few days later.
After your qEEG is completed, Dr. Spencer O. Miller will thoroughly review your results alongside your symptoms to gain a detailed understanding of your brain activity. During your consultation, we’ll walk you through the findings and explain what they may mean for your neurological health.
Hope Begins with Information
We encourage you to reach out and learn more. Gathering information is the first step toward making an informed decision about whether MeRT may be a helpful option for you or your loved one. With a strong track record of success in treating a range of brain-based conditions, we’ve seen many lives change for the better.
At this stage, we’ll help determine whether MeRT is a good fit—and from there, the decision to proceed is entirely yours.
