Brain Patching and Autism Reversal
Since my son was diagnosed with autism some eight and a half years ago I—like many parents—-have tried to stay as well informed as I might about treatments, therapies, programs. (Not that we have wanted to try out many of the “treatment protocols” we have read about.) So on reading a BizWire press release entitled New Techniques to Reverse Autism, I wondered what would it be now, a special diet, HBOT, a sauna, a special new technique, a technological device, wrapping a child in refrigerated wet blankets.
There is something somewhat new about these “new techniques,” developed by the non-profit “Santa Monica, California based HOEFFLIN I6S Child Education Institute (”I6S”),” whose President is a plastic surgeon, Steven M. Hoefflin, MD, FICS, FACS. I6S claims that it “specializes in analyzing the many complex problems facing children and their families who have Learning Disabilities and Developmental Brain Disorders (DBD).” According to the I6S website, Dr. Hoefflin founded the Institute and fully funds it; he has (per the website) a 32-year-old son with a “severe neurological disability” (unspecified). Further, Dr. Hoefflin is a plastic surgeon in Santa Monica who is the “plastic surgeon to the stars” and performs rhinoplasty, otoplasty, botox injections, and so forth.
The BizWire press release cites the puzzling figure of “1 in every 65 families” as having an autistic child and this is not the only inaccuracy referred to. Here are the “new techiques” used by I6S; a number of assertions are made regarding autism and science that need much more substantiation:
Autism is caused by loss of left brain function. Four new techniques are used to stop and reverse the loss by using: (1) “Right Brain Sensory Patching,” (2) “Left Brain Sensory-Motor Hyperstimulation,” (3) A very effective special community based learning environment called “PEDS-NET” (Parent Education Directed Schooling in a Neighborhood Educational Training Program) where 3-4 “Lion Pride Mothers” and their child cubs train together in a special secure home environment and (4) A unique “Focused Stepladder Training Program.”
The major part of the program is based on the success at stopping and reversing another child’s neurological disorder. Up to 80% of Autistic children have one crossed eye (Strabismus). Over several months the eye will lose vision unless an “Eye Patching Program” is started. This can stop and actually reverse the visual loss. Likewise, as soon as a child is diagnosed with Autism, a “Brain Patching Program” is started and it too can stop loss of left brain function and actually reverse Autism.
In order to increase the effectiveness, the mothers will also hyperstimulate the 5 sensory and 2 motor nerve impulses going to the left brain. The mothers perform this by using continuous eye stimulation with visual wavelengths of light, continuous music to one ear, stimulating odors and tastes to one side of the nose and tongue, and tickling, stimulating and moving the right arms and legs. When there is a lack of speech, communication is started in a “Focused Stepladder Program,” first by silent gestures, silent pictures, and then oral sounds, then using a different part of the brain to sing letters, words, and then singing sentences.
Central to the “techniques” noted here is the used of the word “likewise” in the middle paragraph above. It seems that an analogy is made between strabismus and the use of an eye patch to correct this, and autism as caused by “loss of left brain function” and the use of so-called “brain patching” techniques to correct or “reverse” autism. The specific methods suggested are reminiscent of various techniques for sensory integration; requiring mothers to offer lights, music, smells, etc. to their child in a sort of sensory stimuli barrage is rather novel, as is a reference to mothers as “Lion Pride Mothers” and children as “cubs.” (I’ll settle for being just a mother, thank you.) (If this explanation seems insufficient, Dr. Hoefflin is, according to the I6S website, “currently completing a 5 volume text on ‘The Cure of Autism: It’s [sic] Prevention, Early Detection, Treatment, and use of A Unique and Specialized Educational Training Program.’”)
My own son would not take too well to have that much sensory stimulation directed at him; sometimes sensory over-stimulation has been known to make him get more excited, pace back and forth more, hum and sing more—-not exactly a “reversal” of autism. The claim of these techniques “reversing autism” seems to stem from the analogy to strabismus, which is inconsistently maintained—-one would like a little evidence of Hoefflin’s knowledge of autism before further considering “brain patching”: Is this meant to be a sort of “neuroplasty”?
26 opinions for Brain Patching and Autism Reversal
The AS Man
Sep 5, 2007 at 9:08 pm
WOW! Just think, A lil imagination we can use this to make people autistic!. A good thing .WOuldnt you want to be smart like einstein? a savant like tamett? a math genius like newport? or like a nobel laurent in economics?
It is the perfect cure for being a boring hum drum NT
Kristina Chew, PhD
Sep 5, 2007 at 11:15 pm
And all thanks to those lion pride moms—–
The AS Man
Sep 5, 2007 at 11:31 pm
“And all thanks to those lion pride moms—–
I dont get what you are trying to say. Could you please explain?
thanks
gettingthere
Sep 5, 2007 at 11:48 pm
Dear me! Whatever will they they think of next? If my son had had that sort of sensory stimulation when he was younger, he would have climbed the walls and stripped off all the wallpaper.
Um…about the Lion Pride mothers; lest we forget, male cubs are chased from that same loving, nurturing pride when they’re around 2 to 4 years so that mom can mate again and start a new family. The girls get to stay with mommy, aunty and granny. What are the numbers again for autistic boys as opposed to autistic girls?
mcewen
Sep 5, 2007 at 11:57 pm
Perhaps we should count them, the number of alternative therapies?
Best wishes
Marcie
Sep 6, 2007 at 9:02 am
Strabismus? Lost of sight in one eye? I know that many visually impaired people are autistic or have autistic symptoms. But I’ve never heard of a large number of autistics having these kinds of vision issues. Am I missing something?
Marcie
Sep 6, 2007 at 9:04 am
Whoops. Scratch “autistic symptoms”. I meant “autistic characteristics” :-)
Kristina Chew, PhD
Sep 6, 2007 at 9:23 am
At first when I read the press release, I thought that there was some connection being made between strabismus (my mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and niece all had a “lazy eye” that was corrected with a patch) and autism, but on further examination it’s meant as an analogy.
Leila
Sep 6, 2007 at 1:15 pm
What a complete crock of s…. I’m speechless. I don’t know who is more insane, this doctor or the parents that take kids to his practice.
richard jacobson, m.d.
Sep 6, 2007 at 3:29 pm
Just found this site and must say that the comments here are amongst the most down to earth that I have found in any ASD discussion group, especially one which has parent comments.
As a behavioral pediatrician, I hope to learn from the site in ways to help my ASD/devel disabled clientele, most of whom are economically disadvantaged.
Thanks
Richard Jacobson, MD
Behavioral Pediatrician
the ASMan
Sep 6, 2007 at 4:08 pm
Are you this guy?
http://www.mcw.edu/display/router.asp?docid=11404
Look at this
>>>>>>
I work with occupational therapists, neurosurgeons, and hand surgeons, to identify those babies with BP birth injury, who are likely to benefit from surgical intervention. We also consider non-surgical therapeutic alternatives—taping, e-stim, Botox injection—in all babies, to maximize function over the span of development.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
How much??? lol
or are you this guy
Dev Pediatrics & Behav Problem Granada Hills, CA
123 West Manchester Bl Inglewood, CA
Kristina Chew, PhD
Sep 6, 2007 at 4:17 pm
Thank you, Dr. Jacobson; I am much interested in thinking about how to help provide as many autistic children of any economic levels with the programs and therapies they might need.
Gerald Noonan,MD,PhD
Sep 20, 2007 at 9:42 pm
It appears if you review all of the recent scientific literature, this article makes a lot of sense.
Gerald Noonan,MD,PhD
Sep 20, 2007 at 9:43 pm
If you read all of the recent scientific literature, this article makes a lot of sense.
theasman
Sep 20, 2007 at 10:59 pm
>>>
If you read all of the recent scientific literature, this article makes a lot of sense.
theasman
Sep 21, 2007 at 4:23 pm
I certainlty hope so. The world could use more autistic people.
richard jacobson m.d.
Sep 22, 2007 at 1:01 pm
Asman says; > If you read all of the recent scientific literature, this article makes a lot of sense.
richard jacobson m.d.
Sep 22, 2007 at 1:04 pm
I don’t see my comment posted. What’s happening.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Sep 22, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Dr. Jacobson, sometimes there’s a lag if you’re commenting here for the first time; the comment goes into moderation and I wasn’t able to get to my computer immediately. Sorry about that.
richard jacobson m.d.
Sep 22, 2007 at 9:14 pm
This is not my first visit, see above.
I’m posting this for the 3rd time
Asman says; > If you read all of the recent scientific literature, this article makes a lot of sense.
Regan
Sep 22, 2007 at 9:41 pm
“If you read all of the recent scientific literature, this article makes a lot of sense.”
I like to read the recent scientific literature, so if someone could cite some proposed substantiating references, that would be useful to evaluate some of the claims in the press release.
(As a sidebar question, what distinguishes this from the previously hypothesized, and discredited on clinical study, Doman-Delacato therapy?)
At this point it all sounds pretty hypothetical, especially given that Dr. Hoefflin has not on Pubmed and google search, to my knowledge, presented case study, small or large group clinical study, as paper, presentation or even poster in journal or conference. That, even given the statement of having helped hundreds of mothers over the course of 30 years.
I did find several notations attesting to his expertise in the field of plastic surgery.
If I sound skeptical, I have heard a lot of fancy explanation and hypothesis that has been nothing more than someone’s idea and a way to generate business. Now I ask for the published outcome data under APA definitions of evidenced, and some statements of controls. I’m sure to practitioners operating under the umbrella of the scientific method that the skepticism is understandable.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Sep 22, 2007 at 11:19 pm
The scientific literature and the article might make sense, but reflecting on them in light of experiences with actual autistic chiildren, and applying the ideas therein to situations with actual autistic children, can be another matter.
richard jacobson m.d.
Sep 23, 2007 at 11:16 am
Somehow my post was not posted, but essentially said everything that REgan stated. Interesting that when trying to visit this fellows site that it is currently down, purportedly so that they can post his published articles. I am so anxiously awaiting to see in which journals he is “published.”
Richard
richard jacobson m.d.
Sep 23, 2007 at 11:17 am
Oh yes,
I had mentioned in my otherwise purloined message that the article referenced by Dr. Chew, in my mind, is no better than a P-R piece, not the least bit “scientific.”
Kristina Chew, PhD
Sep 23, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Dr. Jacobson, my apologies about your “purloined comment”—I am searching for it and hope it is hiding in plain sight! If you include a URL in comment, the software sometimes sends the comment into the spam filter.
richard jacobson m.d.
Sep 23, 2007 at 5:34 pm
Sokay. My points have been made. To further one of yours, unless one is working with a number of ASD people, one can not imagine even the smallest degree of complexity in the diagnosis or treatment.
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