UPDATE: unexpected news about Autism device/treatment

March 2019: visions of a promising treatment for autism.

On March 2019, I wrote about the information I received about autistic children and a device that could help them.

One year later: feedback and a new device

One year later, I spontaneously heard back from the father I done the reading for, and subsequently written about (above).

He said a few weeks earlier he had taken his son to his pediatric neurologist, who then told him about a device she had been using with her autism-spectrum patients. His son had started using it and he noticed improvements in focus and behavior.

When I read his message I became emotional, thinking there indeed may be a way to help children with autism. We are at the beginning. It’s a promising beginning nonetheless.

His son had started using a device similar to what I had described

This is not something he told the doctor about. It was independently and spontaneously suggested by the child’s doctor. Which is excellent news!

The full email text:

These are the photos of the device attached to the message:

Hi Rosie,

Don't worry about the delay in response. You have a lot going on.

I did want to reach out to about a reading you gave me regarding my son. It was incredibly intuitive for you as you started seeing pictures very rapidly. If you remember you focused on a device that would stimulate S. brain, in parts that are underdeveloped. When you described where the device would be placed, you kept placing your hands behind your ears.

We are lucky in that we have been seeing an excellent pediatric neurologist in San Francisco. Last month we saw her as S. was slipping into behaviors that were difficult to deal with. She told us of a device that she has been using with her autism-spectrum patients. We said hell yeah! Let's do it. The device can only be prescribed by a medical doctor.

Here a link to the device: https://www.alpha-stim.com/

And attaching some pics of the unit. We started 2 weeks ago, and we are seeing results. Note that the use of the device is called off-

label, as the FDA has not cleared it for the use I described.

Rosie - It's a device that clips on his earlobes and sends an electrical current through the back portion of the brain. Will doesn't feel anything, and I"ve tried it too. You don't notice anything.

Using for just 2 weeks, we seeing major improvement in his behavior and focus. It's slow, but enough that we are taking notice Just wanted to give you something to offset the negative Trump.

Great job Rosie!

Yes, progress is happening!

When I first heard this news I was amazed because I assumed it would have taken a few years for the device I had seen to be commercially available. 

His dad reported that his behavior issues had improved. Because his son is non-verbal we wonder if he will eventually speak. When we originally had that first conversation, I told him about the order in which this maturation would occur. First, he will giggle and he will laugh, and it is only after laughing develops that spoken language will develop. He has not spoken quite yet, but he is close.

Where to find information about this device

This is the website https://www.alpha-stim.com/

Once I heard from Mark* about it, I reached out to the product manufacturer to find out more, and I was told this product has not been approved for autism treatment per se, but for anxiety and pain. You must purchase this through a health practitioner, it is not available off the shelf.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical doctor, I am not being paid to write about this device and I am not connected to the manufacturer in any way. If you have any further questions about this device, this is their website: https://www.alpha-stim.com/