Announcing the grand opening of the Brain Balance Center of Woodbury, MN. If you are in the Woodbury area, please join us for the following grand opening events:

Parent Information Night with Brain Balance Creator Dr. Robert Melillo
Tuesday, February 7th at 7pm
Woodbury Central Park Amphitheater
8595 Central Park Place

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to meet Dr. Robert Melillo as he provides a deeper understanding of childhood neurobehavioral disorders such as ADD/ADHD, Dyslexia, Tourette’s, Asperger’s and Autism Spectrum Disorders using a brain-based perspective.  Dr. Melillo will explain these disorders as a Functional Disconnection Syndrome (FDS).  FDS is a functional imbalance of brain activity between the left and right sides of the brain.  Learn how and why Brain Balance’s unique approach is seeing amazing results for children with learning, behavioral, and social issues.

Open House and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Wednesday, Februrary 8th at 2pm
Brain Balance Center of Woodbury, MN
783 Radio Drive Suite #106

Meet Dr. Robert Melillo at this event hosted by Dr. David Stussy, Brain Balance Center of Woodbury owner, and the Woodbury Chamber of Commerce. Enjoy tours of the center, time with Dr. Melillo, and some light snacks and beverages.

Parent Information Night with Dr. Robert Melillo
Wednesday November 8th at 7pm
Minnetonka Arts Center on 7
18285 Highway 7

Don’t miss this final opportunity to meet Dr. Robert Melillo as he once again discusses childhood neurobehavioral disorders such as ADD/ADHD, Dyslexia, Tourette’s, Asperger’s and Autism Spectrum Disorders using a brain-based perspective.  Dr. Melillo will explain Functional Disconnection Syndrome and how it contributes to these disorders.

All events listed are free and open to the public. Parents, educators, and professionals are encouraged to attend. Please click here to register for the parent lectures as space is limited. For additional information about these events, please call the Brain Balance Center of Woodbury, MN at (651) 731-6163 or contact us today to learn more about the program.

Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurological disorder that combines vocal and motor tics. Tics are defined as repetitive, stereotyped, involuntary movements and vocalizations and can be classified as either simple or complex. Below, you will find examples of both classes of motor movements from The Truth section of our website:

Simple motor tics are sudden, brief, repetitive movements that involve a limited number of muscle groups and may include:

• Eye blinking and other vision irregularities
• Facial grimacing or shoulder shrugging
• Head and/or shoulder jerking
• Simple vocalizations like repetitive throat-clearing, sniffing sounds, or grunting

Complex tics are distinct, coordinated patterns of movements involving several muscle groups and may include:

• Facial grimacing combined with a head twist and a shoulder shrug
• Complex vocal tics that include words and phrases
• Apparently purposeful movements like sniffing or touching objects, jumping, bending, or twisting

While most people with TS experience mild or moderate symptoms, a small percentage of those diagnosed with the disorder experience dramatic and disabling tics that can include self-injuring motor movements, coprolalia (uttering swear words), or echolalia (repeating the words or phrases of others). Some people with the disorder describe an urge or tension build-up that proceeds their tics. This is called a premonitory urge.

Diagnosis
In order to receive a diagnosis of Tourette Syndrome, symptoms of multiple motor tics and at least one verbal tic must be present for a minimum of one year and begin before a person’s 18th birthday. Symptoms must not be better explained by another medical condition or substances like stimulants. For more information on symptoms and diagnosis, click here.

How Brain Balance Can Help
Clinical research indicates that Neurobehavioral Disorders like TS have in common an under-connectivity of electrical activity within and between the right and left sides of the brain. At Brain Balance, we call this Functional Disconnection Syndrome. After completing a comprehensive assessment of each student’s brain and body function, our team integrates physical, sensory-motor, and cognitive exercises with simple dietary changes to correct the underlying brain imbalance, improve function, and reduce or eliminate negative symptoms and behaviors. Each student’s program is unique to his or her specific challenges! Contact us today to learn more.

Ever wondered how Brain Balance Achievement Centers came to be? Dr. Robert Melillo, creator of the Brain Balance Program® and co-founder of our centers, recently shared his story and passion for the special needs community with Dandelion Magazine, a quarterly special needs publication serving the Sacramento and Bay areas of California. Click here to enjoy the entire interview or read some candid excerpts below:

His mission to find a cure for neurobehavioral disorders began more than a decade ago, when his own 6-year-old son was diagnosed with ADHD. “It’s personal. As a parent in general, this is very important to me,” Melillo noted during the beginning of our conversation.

“I wanted to know: what is ADHD? What is going on in the brain? And no one could answer me,” he explains. Frustrated, Melillo began researching with Dr. Ted Carrick, studying the nervous system, the body and the brain. They found patterns of brain imbalances, then developed therapies to address the imbalances.

Three 3-year-olds with autism were the first to try Melillo’s program of functional therapies. He says that all three were non-verbal beforehand and all three children began speaking after completing the program. “What impacted me was the families and the parents,” he says. “There was overwhelming relief and joy in them—I felt what they felt as a parent, I could relate. At that point, I knew I would do that for the rest of my life.” His groundbreaking research and discoveries led to the creation of the Brain Balance centers, which use a holistic approach—without drugs—to help children with neurobehavioral and learning difficulties.

Dr. Melillo’s research and personal commitment to the special needs community led to his creation of the Brain Balance Program®, a proprietary, non-medical program that has been successful in helping hundreds of children reach their physical, social, behavioral, and academic potential. Our after school learning centers help children with neurobehavioral disorders such as ADHD, Dyslexia, Asperger’s, Tourette’s, and OCD connect with success. You can find our centers in 54 (and growing) nationwide locations. Contact us today to learn more!

Dyslexia has long been linked to reduced activity in the posterior or rear portion of the brain’s left hemisphere. What has been unclear is whether this reduced brain activity was a result of an individual’s years of reading difficulty or a preexisting, underlying cause of the disorder.

A study published in the most recent issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences indicates the latter to be true. After comparing functional MRI results from a group of pre-reading children at high risk for Dyslexia due to family history with a control group of pre-reading children with no increased risk, researchers determined that the high risk group showed the same reduced brain activity as adults with the disorder while the control group didn’t. Researchers hope this information can lead to earlier diagnosis for kids at high risk for Dyslexia, even before reading instruction begins.

What does this new research mean for parents of children with Dyslexia or Developmental Reading Disorder? It means there’s hope! Brain Balance has long contended that Functional Disconnection Syndrome, an imbalance in the connections and function between and within the hemispheres of the brain, is responsible for a host of behavioral, academic, and social difficulties. This newest research supports our approach of strengthening brain communication to improve the underlying cause of learning and behavioral disorders.

To fully understand your child’s difficulties, we first conduct a comprehensive assessment of all areas of brain and body function. Then by integrating physical, sensory-motor, and cognitive exercises with simple dietary changes, we are able to correct the underlying imbalance, improve function, and reduce or eliminate negative symptoms and behaviors.

Dyslexia doesn’t have to be a life-long struggle. At Brain Balance, we believe every child can connect with success. If your child is experiencing learning and/or behavioral problems, consider a Brain Balance assessment to help you better understand your child’s issues. Contact us today to learn more!

If you child is having trouble reading or has been diagnosed with Dyslexia, school can be a heartbreaking daily struggle. In this post, we will discuss the disorder and how Brain Balance can help.

Dyslexia is a developmental reading disorder that prevents the brain from processing and recognizing certain symbols. It is not caused by poor vision but instead is an information processing problem that occurs in the brain. This type of processing issue can go well beyond just seeing or writing letters backwards. It can include an inability to recognize words visually, problems with rhyming and spelling, and an inability to determine the meaning of words. Click here for more specific information on signs, symptoms, and diagnosis of the disorder.

Despite the fact that children with Dyslexia or other reading issues often have average to above average intelligence, one can imagine the toll it takes on a child’s self-esteem as they watch their classmates master reading with what seems to them like little or no effort. As self-esteem suffers, so can a child’s behavior due to the frustration and embarrassment they feel on a daily basis. Eventually a child’s reading problems can affect the entire family.

At Brain Balance, we believe every child can connect with success. Is your child having difficulty learning to read or spell? If so, we invite you to consider the Brain Balance Program. Our program is a multi-modal approach that includes a comprehensive three part assessment, 36 sessions of in-center sensory-motor work as well as behavioral, cognitive, and academic training, nutritional testing and planning, and an at-home program for continued success. Our approach is a thorough and holistic one that takes the whole child into consideration when designing his or her customized program. Since Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurological in origin, strengthening brain communication and improving rhythm and timing can decrease symptoms of this and other learning disorders. Contact us today to learn more!

Parents whose children have participated in the Brain Balance Program® continue to leave unsolicited comments around the web sharing their family’s success stories. Most recently, the Brain Balance Achievement Center of Cary, NC has received glowing reviews from satisfied parents. Click here to read the full testimonials or enjoy excerpts below:

Posted by Michelle on 12-21-2011:

We were at the end of our rope! Preschool teachers, pediatricians, therapist all told us it was a control issue that we needed to correct with our daughter. No one seemed to be able to help beyond this point. A friend (who is a counselor) introduced us to Brain Balance. She shared her experience with me and encouraged me to have our daughter assessed. When we first heard of Brain Balance we were very skeptical. How could 36 sessions in their program make that much of a difference? We were amazed… After approx. 12 sessions we saw HUGE changes in our daughter. We finished the program about 2 weeks ago and are so glad to have our daughter where she needs to be developmentally. Babysitters and friends have commented on the difference in our daughter and that it seems to be much more peaceful/stress free in our home. This upcoming fall she will be attending kindergarten and we are confident that she is equipped with the tools to succeed. We highly recommend this program to all parents who are in the same situation.

Posted by Rebecca on 10-20-2011:

We had tried OT, Play Therapy, every program available before Brain Balance. I felt like everything we did worked for a short time, then we were right back where we started. Within weeks of doing Brain Balance, I noticed huge changes in our six year old son… He is doing amazing academically and socially and doing things I have always wished my son would be able to do. The staff and everyone at Brain Balance were so wonderful to work with.

Posted by Matthew on 10-14-2011:

…Two months into the three month program, family and friends were commenting on how mature he suddenly seemed. His gym teacher, sending home “What happened to Joey? He actually participated for the first time in his school life this week.” By the end of the three months, he’s suddenly making strides in his 1 on 1 math lessons at school and with his tutor outside of school. No more Joey-meltdown calls from school. And, the most amazing single thing, his handwriting is the best in the family, after years of OT work on handwriting being fruitless, and handwriting not being a skill worked on in BB. A few more months pass and the school year ends and we get his End of Grade exam results. Joey gets 3s in Math and Reading. A 3 in math. A. 3. In. Math. For anyone from out of town, that’s grade level (4 being well exceeds). He’s never gotten more than a 1 before; jumped over 2 completely. Joey reads for enjoyment. Blew through Potter and Percy Jackson like they were comic books. His “Thank You” letter at elementary school graduation was short and sweet. The key lines being, “Thank you for not giving up on me when I told you to forget about me. I’ll never say that again.” He has a few more issues to cope with, but saw more progress in 3 months than in 5 years of other treatments.

Brain Balance Centers offer the Brain Balance Program® in 54 nationwide locations. We work with children who suffer from symptoms of ADHD, Dyslexia, Tourette’s, Asperger’s, and OCD. Contact us to learn more!

Announcing the grand opening of the Brain Balance Center of Richmond, VA!  If you are in the Richmond area, please join us for the following grand opening events:

Brain Balance Center of Richmond Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Monday, January 23, 2011 at 12pm at the Brain Balance Achievement Center of Richmond
Address: 15833 City View Drive, Midlothian, VA 23113
Phone: 804-977-2747
Please join us for this exciting grand opening event. The ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at noon with an open house to follow until 3pm. Be sure to speak with Dr. Robert Melillo, co-founder and creator of the Brain Balance Program. Also in attendance will be Dr. Mark Smith, the only active board-certified chiropractic neurologist in central Virginia and founder of the Brain Balance Achievement Center of Richmond. The team from 103.7 The River will be broadcasting live from 1pm to 3pm. Click here for more information and to register for this event!

Book Signing and Community Event
Tuesday, January 24, 2011 from 11am to 1pm at Books A Million at Westchester Commons
Address: 15701 Westchester Commons Main St., Midlothian, VA 23113
Phone: 804-897-9813
Dr. Robert Melillo, founder of Brain Balance Achievement Centers and author of Disconnected Kids and Reconnected Kids, will be at Books A Million at Westchester Commons to sign copies of his books, talk to parents and kids, and share his story of hope and help for families dealing with learning and behavioral disorders. Stop by, pick up a copy of his books, and speak with Dr. Melillo. Take a tour of the Brain Balance Center of Richmond in the nearby Shoppes at Westchester Commons.

Brain Balance Center of Richmond Gala Event
Tuesday, January 24, 2011 from 4:30-6pm at the Crossroads Art Center
Address: 2016 Staples Mill Road, Richmond, VA 23230
Phone: 804-278-8950
The Brain Balance Center of Richmond will host a gala reception at Crossroads Art Center featuring remarks by Dr. Robert Melillo, creator and co-founder of the Brain Balance Program, and Dr. Mark Smith, director of Brain Balance Center of Richmond, as well as appearances by special guests. Enjoy another book-signing of Dr. Melillo’s Disconnected Kids and Reconnected Kids.

More About Brain Balance
Want to know more about our program? Brain Balance Achievement Centers are after-school learning facilities that help children with learning and behavioral disorders reach their full potential. After a comprehensive assessment, your Brain Balance team custom designs physical, cognitive, and sensory activity plans to establish proper neural connections and improve the brain’s rhythm and timing. This proprietary, non-medical program has been successful in helping hundreds of children reach their physical, social/behavioral health and academic potential. We work with children who suffer from ADHD, Dyslexia, Asperger’s Syndrome, Tourette’s Syndrome, and OCD.

Contact us today for special savings on your child’s comprehensive assessment and join us for these special grand opening events! Not in the Richmond Area? Find the Brain Balance Center nearest you by using our center locator.

According to a flurry of recent articles, drugs used to treat ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) are in short supply, leaving many parents and individuals without the medication they rely on to ease symptoms. A recent article from the New York Times attributes the shortage to the DEA’s efforts to control the abuse of stimulant medication by people who do not have ADHD, including college students who use the medication to stay awake for all night study sessions. By setting quotas for stimulant medications like Adderall and Ritalin, the DEA hopes to diminish abuse, but the FDA says that the quotas are too strict, which is leading to the shortage of affordable generic options for people with ADHD. Some argue drug companies are choosing to make more name-brand ADHD medication and less generic options in an effort to increase profits.

Where does this shortage leave parents of children with the disorder? For many, there is not only the added financial burden of paying for name-brand medications on a monthly basis, but also the added stress and time it takes for parents to find a pharmacy that can fill the prescriptions.

If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD or experiences attention and focus issues, we invite you to consider the Brain Balance Program®, which is a non-medical brain-based method for improving symptoms.  At Brain Balance, we recognize that many childhood disorders are manifestations of a single, underlying condition called Functional Disconnection Syndrome. Research indicates that ADHD, Dyslexia, processing disorders, and other learning differences have in common an imbalance  of electrical activity within and between the right and left sides of the brain. As a result, the brain becomes desynchronized or “out of rhythm”. This disconnection is responsible for a host of behavioral, academic, and social difficulties, and it is the premise on which the Brain Balance Program® was created. After a comprehensive assessment, your Brain Balance team custom designs academic, sensory-motor, and cognitive activity plans along with dietary guidelines. These customized interventions help establish proper neural connections and improve brain function, resulting in a reduction or cessation of symptoms.

We are brain-based, not drug-based. Our proprietary, non-medical program has been successful in helping hundreds of kids reach their physical, behavioral, social, and academic potential. Contact us today to learn more about Brain Balance!

Dr. Robert Melillo, an internationally known chiropractic neurologist and creator of the Brain Balance Program™, is scheduled to speak next week at the Brain Balance Achievement Center of Fort Wayne, IN. As a professor, researcher, and expert in childhood neurological disorders, his program has helped thousands of children with learning and behavioral issues connect with success. Please join us next week for the following special events:

Parent Lecture
Monday, January 16, 2012 from 5:30pm to 7pm
Please join us at the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce for a parent lecture with Dr. Robert Melillo where he will discuss the history and purpose of writing his book Disconnected Kids: The Groundbreaking Brain Balance Program™ for Children with Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia and Other Neurological Disorders. This guidebook shows parents how to use the drug-free Brain Balance approach at home with customizable exercises for physical, sensory-motor, and academic performance. The book also discusses behavior modification strategies, nutrition guidelines, and a follow up program for lasting results.

Community Lecture
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 from 1pm to 4pm
Please join us at the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce for a community lecture with Dr. Robert Melillo where he will discuss Functional Disconnection Syndrome, a communication issue between and within the two sides of the brain, and why it is responsible for a host of childhood neuro-behavioral disorders. Learn how and why the Brain Balance Program™ improves brain function and reduces symptoms of these disorders.

The Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce is located at 826 Ewing Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46802. For more information about these events please contact Rachel Merz at 260-918-9694.

Does your family like to make new year’s resolutions? Beginning a new year can be a great time for all of us to revisit our commitments and goals, especially for children with special needs, learning differences, or behavioral issues. Here are three tips to help kids get focused and involved in their own success:

1. Putting a new year’s resolution in writing and hanging in a prominent place, like the refrigerator or family organization board, can help remind you and your child to stay focused on the goal. Have school-aged children write a short sentence describing their goal, and get the whole family involved in supporting their effort and progress.

2. For some children with special needs, new year’s resolutions may include improving reading skills or a specific grade on their report card, while for others, goals may focus on physical accomplishments like riding a bike or playing a team sport. Whatever the goal, avoid making it too specific. If your child wants to become a better reader, make that the initial goal. For example, have your child write “I resolve to improve my reading skills” instead of “I resolve to read five books per week.” Once your child has set a goal, discuss concrete ways to make it happen. After the child has seen some progress and gained confidence, it may be time to set more specific goals, but keep it simple in the beginning so your child doesn’t feel overwhelmed or disappointed.

3. Praise your child’s effort. As we all know, sometimes despite admirable effort we can fall short of our goals. Teach your children to re-set a goal and keep going. Invite them to discuss what they’ve learned through the process. Reward and acknowledge their effort with a favorite family activity or outing, and let them know you support them no matter what. Children with special needs and learning differences often experience self-esteem issues and can use the extra support, and this is a great time to let children know you will help them accomplish their goals.

Helping special needs children identify and accomplish new year’s resolutions can be a rewarding opportunity to teach life skills to your whole family. If your child has learning differences or behavioral issues, consider the Brain Balance Program. By improving brain function through sensory-motor and cognitive activity plans in conjunction with dietary guidelines, learning differences and behavioral symptoms can be reduced or eliminated. Contact us today to learn more about how Brain Balance can help your child connect with success.