Disconnected Kids: The Groundbreaking Brain Balance Program for Children with Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and Other Neurological Disorders

by Robert Melillo

Book Overview

A proven drug-free program addressing the cause-not just the symptoms-of Autism Spectrum Disorders and related conditions. Each year, an estimated 1.5 million children are diagnosed with autism, Asperger's syndrome, ADHD, dyslexia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. But even as rates rise, diagnosis and treatment have not changed in 50 years. Since psychiatric drugs, given to more than 20% of elementary school children today, don't cure them, doctors...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 039953475X
• ISBN13: 9780399534751
• Release Date: January 2009
• Publisher: Perigee Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.9" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Changed our daughter's life! Cured trichotillomania and tics!

Our daughter began exhibiting mild "tics" at the age of 7 (throat clearing, humming, sniffing, eye blinking). Our regular pediatrician said it was a normal part of brain development and not to worry (not necessarily true). At age 9 she began pulling her eyelashes out (a disorder called Trichotillomania). This can progress to be a very life altering behavior in which individuals can pull eyelashes, eyebrows, and even scalp hair until the point that they have large bald patches and may be forced to wear wigs. Through a round-a-bout contact, I discovered a doctor that was a student of Dr. Melillo. We took our daughter to see him and he ran a series of approximately 100 neurological tests to determine what was happening in our daughter's brain (everything from balance tests, to eye tracking, etc.). He was able to determine that our daughter had a highly stimulated "left brain" (she has tested in the top 2 percent in the nation academically), but her "right brain" was slightly under stimulated. This made the communication between the two sides of her brain increasing difficult. Because the "left brain" was so stimulated, and unable to communicate properly with the right side of her brain, the over stimulation would "escape" or "release" itself from the brain in the form of her "tics" and the eyelash pulling. We were given homework to stimulate our daughter's right brain to balance out the two sides of the brain (physical, sensory type exercises that were tailor made for her brain needs). Within DAYS our daughter's tics and eyelash pulling stopped (it has been several months now - and they have not returned). Even more amazing, is the fact that (without ANY prompting) she has stopped biting her fingernails. This child had been a nail biter since she was a toddler. She would bite them so far down that the skin would puff up over the ends of her nails. She confessed to me that the reason she started pulling her eyelashes out - was because she could no longer find enough fingernails to bite. Additionally, she has been able to stay better focused in school and we were told by the teacher that she is less "fidgety". Although she has always been highly intelligent, it has always been difficult to keep her on task and focused (I once suspected that she had ADHD). Sometimes, we slack on doing the exercises and I will see that she can become easily distracted again - which tells us we need to get back to the exercises. However, the eyelash pulling, tics and nail biting have never returned. I highly recommend this book and finding a doctor trained in Dr. Melillo's theories. Our regular pediatrician was suggesting "psychotherapy" and medications (which have been proven to make things worse). I shudder to think of what her future would have been if we had drugged her with Ritalin and forced her to look at ink blots. Thank you Dr. Melillo! You're brilliant and I can only hope that I will see every pediatrician trained in this concept in my lifetime! I unders

Have seen significant improvement in ASD children using this program

I'm a mom of a son diagnosed with adhd and dyslexia. My son has been enrolled in the Brain Balance program that is described in this book for 6 months. The only improvement we have seen as a result of these 6 months is a moderate improvement in his gross motor skills. BUT while bringing my son to the program 3 days a week for 6 months, I have met other parents who HAVE seen wonderful results and they are thrilled. These parents have previously tried other therapies and biomedical interventions with much less success than with Brain Balance. The children I am personally aware of who have improved with this program are all diagnosed as autistic. I have also been in contact via some yahoo discussion lists with a mom who has seen noticable results (by herself,teachers, and therapists)USING THE BOOK for just ONE MONTH (vs. enrolling her child in a program run by professionals trained by Dr. Mellilo as we have). This mom's child is an autistic boy who has not responded to any other interventions. As with all the interventions we parents have been pursuing to improve our children's (and our!) lives, every child responds differently. My child has not responded (yet???) but I know children who have so I would certainly give the book and its program a try ... I'll be happy to respond to anyone who e-mails me with questions (check profile for e-mail). We're all searching for the answer for our families!!!!

The Complete Puzzle... Finally!

Hi, Just to let you know, my daughter was ONCE profoundly autistic. She was so severe that doctors told us to just give up on her and just let her live her life. Well that is quite hard to do when your child is so aggressive and struggles so much with everything and anything to just not give her a chance. If I had given up, I would not have found Brain Balance. I am forever grateful to Dr. Melillo, his staff, and this wonderful program. It was so exciting to see her at her birthday party this past week and see her eat cake, bowling, and have just a blast with her friends. She went from being so far into her self and getting worse to an outgoing, curious, humerous, lover of life little girl. I am thrilled with her willingness to try with school and her eagerness to learn the world around her. It is wonderful for her to read me a book, draw me a drawing, help with dinner, participate in Karate, and have friends that do not question whether or not she ever had any issues. She finally has a life. I know for a personal fact that these stories are not made up. The only reason that others may think this program is to easy or to good to be true, is because our society has taught us to think only one way. We have grown to believe that there is no hope or cure. I never knew this to be true for my daughter, or her two brothers who also completed the Brain Balance Program for ADD and severe allergies. This is a very powerful program that I urge every parent to look into for the future of their child. I am very excited that this book is finally out. I have looked forward to it for quite some time, in the hopes that families can at least experience what we have gone through. Brain Balance has brought such peace to a household that was once under so much chaos. I had three children at one time dealing with a severity of issues. I cannot even go into detail or put into words how wonderful it is to finally wake up from this nightmare. This program is such a blessing! Please who ever is reading this, hold on to hope and faith. And never listen to those that are skeptical. This program can turn your child and your families life around as it did ours. Hold on to Believing!!! Peace, Jaime

Finally - the Whole Story!

Run, don't walk to get this book, particularly if you are a parent or a professional who deals with children with developmental delays! As a parent, who has engaged in all of the conventional methods, it took the work of Dr. Robert Melillo and the Brain Balance program to completely turn our sons' and our lives' around. Our son walked into the program non-verbal with significant developmental delays and walked out - able to say anything and significantly ahead of where he was in terms of reasoning, social play and understanding - just to name a few. Our family will stop at nothing less than 100% recovery and with Disconnected Kids and the Brain Balance program we will get there! This program has brought him farther, faster and more furiously than any of the conventional methods out there. We are forever grateful!