Real Patient Story — Autism

Kyle is 16, non-verbal,
and something remarkable happened.

Watch the moment his family sat down with Dr. Wallace after six weeks of MeRT® treatment — and what changed for a young man who had never found the right answer.

There's an incredibly special moment toward the end of this video. Please watch all the way through.

"The autism experience for every individual is unique — and so is the treatment. We start with your child's actual brainwaves, not a protocol designed for someone else."

— Dr. Ramona Wallace, DO · Medical Director, Brain Treatment Center Michigan
Shelley and Kyle's journey

Sixteen years of searching for answers

Kyle has been non-verbal his whole life. He's also an eloper — which means he sometimes runs off on his own, creating dangerous situations that keep his family on constant alert. Shelley knows firsthand how isolating this journey can be, and how hard it is to find other parents who truly understand.

After years of trying different approaches, Shelley found Brain Treatment Center Michigan. What made MeRT different wasn't a promise — it was a process. Starting with Kyle's own EEG data, Dr. Wallace designed a treatment protocol built specifically around how his brain was functioning, not a standardized approach.

Six weeks later, they sat down together to see what had changed.

Non-verbal at 16

Kyle has never spoken. Every approach Shelley tried addressed the symptoms without addressing the underlying brain dysregulation — until MeRT.

An eloper — and why it's dangerous

Elopement in autism means a child or teen runs off unexpectedly. For families, it creates constant anxiety and limits activities that other families take for granted.

The isolation of the journey

Shelley speaks openly about how hard it is when other parents don't understand — and how alone that can feel after years of difficult decisions.

Why MeRT is different

Standard approaches don't start with an EEG. MeRT does — meaning Kyle's treatment was built around his brain specifically, not a one-size-fits-all protocol.

How MeRT works

Treatment built around your child's brain — not a standard protocol

MeRT (Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy) uses gentle magnetic pulses to encourage healthier communication patterns in the brain. What makes it different from standard TMS is that every protocol starts with a detailed qEEG brain map — so the treatment is personalized to your child's specific brainwave patterns.

For children and teens with autism, the EEG often reveals patterns of dysregulation that standard treatments never address. MeRT targets those specific patterns directly.

1

qEEG brain mapping

A comfortable EEG cap records brainwave activity. No needles, no discomfort — just a detailed map of how your child's brain is currently functioning.

2

Physician review and personalized protocol

Dr. Wallace reviews the findings and designs a treatment protocol specific to your child — the right frequency, the right location, the right timing.

3

Daily treatment sessions

In-office sessions Monday through Friday. The EEG is repeated at weeks two, four, and six so the protocol adjusts as your child's brain responds.

4

Results review with Dr. Wallace

At the end of treatment, you meet with Dr. Wallace to review before-and-after EEG changes and discuss what the results mean for your child going forward.

Physician-led care

Every protocol is reviewed and overseen by Dr. Wallace

Brain Treatment Center Michigan is physician-led at every step. Dr. Ramona Wallace, DO reviews every patient's EEG findings, approves every treatment protocol, and personally conducts the results appointments you see in these videos. This is not technician-run care.

Dr. Ramona Wallace, DO

Dr. Ramona Wallace, DO

Medical Director · Board-Certified Physician · Cleveland Clinic Foundation

Dr. Wallace is a board-certified physician and Cleveland Clinic Foundation staff member specializing in MeRT, functional medicine, and neurological wellness. She personally oversees all clinical protocols across Brain Treatment Center Michigan's locations.

View full profile →
FDA-cleared rTMS equipment
Non-invasive, drug-free
Ages 3 and older
Can be combined with ABA
More from Shelley and Kyle

Watch their full journey

Before treatment

Meet Shelley — Kyle's story from the beginning

Shelley shares what the autism journey has really been like for their family, and what led her to Brain Treatment Center Michigan.

The full story

Shelley and Kyle — the long road to treatment

The complete story of what life with Kyle has been like — the eloping, the isolation, the difficulty finding support from other parents.

Get started

Your child deserves a treatment built around their brain

Our care team will reach out within one business day to answer your questions and help you understand whether MeRT may be right for your child — no commitment required.

Please do not include detailed medical information in this form. A coordinator will contact you to discuss your situation through appropriate channels.

If we miss your call, we will try you twice more before the end of the next business day. We typically respond within one business day. Your information is never shared.

What happens next:

1. Our care team calls you within one business day
2. They answer your questions and check insurance if applicable
3. If it's a fit, they schedule your evaluation — no obligation at any step.

Prefer to call? (269) 430-7966 — ask for our care team

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Is MeRT right for your child?

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