Most TMS clinics use a standard protocol: the same stimulation frequency for everyone with the same diagnosis. We start from a different place. Every brain has its own natural rhythm, so we measure it first and set treatment to match.
Every brain runs at its own pace
Your brain produces electrical rhythms called brain waves. One of the most important is the alpha rhythm, which is strongest when you’re awake and calm. Its exact speed differs from person to person: one child’s alpha rhythm might peak at 9 cycles per second, another’s at 11.
That difference matters. A rhythm that runs too slow, too fast or out of step between brain regions can show up in attention, sleep, mood, regulation and communication.
How we personalize TMS
- We record a qEEG brain map. Sensors at 19 sites on the scalp record brain waves for less than an hour. It’s painless, and your child stays awake the whole time. See qEEG brain mapping.
- We find your own rhythm. The map shows the frequency at which the brain naturally runs strongest, and which areas are faster, slower or out of sync compared with people the same age.
- We set the stimulation frequency to match. Instead of a one-size setting, the TMS frequency is chosen from your own EEG. The map also guides where the coil is placed and how strong the stimulation is.
- We re-map and adjust. Partway through care we repeat the qEEG and set it beside the first one. If the rhythm or the symptoms change, the plan changes with them.
Our medical director reviews every treatment plan before the first session.
What it feels like
TMS uses gentle magnetic pulses from a coil resting on the scalp. Patients feel light tapping and hear a clicking sound. There’s no medication, no sedation and no needles, and children go back to school or play afterward. Sessions are short and run on weekdays over several weeks.
Who it’s for
- Autism: our primary focus, working toward calmer regulation, steadier sleep, attention and communication
- Depression and OCD, both FDA-cleared uses of TMS
- Anxiety, ADHD, PTSD and brain injury
The honest part
TMS is FDA-cleared for depression and OCD. For autism, ADHD and the other conditions above it’s an off-label use, and research on matching stimulation to a person’s own brain rhythm is still developing. We tell every family that plainly. What we can promise is a plan built from your own measurements, weekly check-ins and a repeat brain map, so you can see for yourself what’s changing.
Cost and insurance
TMS for autism is usually not covered by insurance, but parts of care, such as the consultation, the brain map and therapy visits, may be. TMS for depression is covered by many plans. We check your Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna or Aetna benefits before anything is scheduled and give you self-pay pricing in writing. Check my coverage.
Talk with us
If you’re looking for TMS personalized to your child’s own brain, call 630-448-2721, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. We’re in Lombard and serve families from Hinsdale, Wheaton, Oak Brook, Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Chicago and the western and south suburbs.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk with your own clinician about your child or yourself.