Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how the brain processes information, communicates, and interacts with the world. Children on the spectrum may experience challenges with language, social engagement, sensory sensitivities, and emotional regulation — but every child’s experience with autism is unique.

Some children are highly verbal but struggle with social cues. Others may have limited speech yet demonstrate exceptional focus or creativity. Autism is not one single condition; it’s a spectrum that reflects differences in how the brain develops and organizes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 31 children aged 8 are now diagnosed with autism — a rate that has risen by more than 300% in the last two decades. This rapid increase points not only to greater awareness and improved diagnostics, but also to growing concern about environmental, neurological, and metabolic factors that influence brain development.

The Emotional and Practical Challenges Families Face

Raising a child with autism can be deeply rewarding — but it also brings unique challenges that can leave parents feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, or even isolated.
Many families describe living in a constant state of vigilance — planning every outing, meal, or school day around potential sensory triggers or emotional meltdowns.

Common struggles include:

Communication barriers: difficulty expressing needs or understanding instructions
Social disconnection: trouble making eye contact, forming friendships, or engaging in group settings
Behavioral challenges: repetitive movements, mood swings, or resistance to change
Sensory overload: strong reactions to sounds, textures, lights, or certain foods
Physical symptoms: poor coordination, digestive issues, sleep disturbances, or low muscle tone

Parents often spend years navigating between specialists, therapies, and schools — yet still feel like no one is addressing the root cause of their child’s struggles. Many say, “We’ve tried everything, but we still don’t know why this is happening.”

That’s where our approach at Neurogenesis Brain & Spine begins.

Conventional Treatments — and Their Limitations

Traditional care for autism often involves:

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to teach social and behavioral skills
Speech therapy to improve communication
Occupational therapy (OT) to support fine motor and sensory development
Special education support within schools

These therapies can be extremely valuable and often remain part of a child’s ongoing care. However, most conventional interventions focus on teaching compensation strategies — helping the child adapt to symptoms — rather than addressing the underlying neurological dysfunction that produces those symptoms in the first place.

While behavioral and educational therapies teach the “what” of change, they rarely address the “why.” Why does my child experience sensory overload? Why can’t they regulate emotions? Why is speech so difficult despite years of therapy?

At Neurogenesis Brain & Spine, those are the questions we help families answer.

How We’re Different: A Neurological and Metabolic Perspective

Dr. Daniel Faulk and his team take a functional neurology and neuro-metabolic approach — one that looks at how your child’s brain processes information, how efficiently it communicates between regions, and how well it produces energy at the cellular level.

Research has shown that children on the spectrum often experience functional disconnectivity between the hemispheres of the brain and key regions like the frontal lobe, cerebellum, and sensory integration centers. These imbalances can affect movement, attention, speech, and behavior.

Additionally, studies indicate that many individuals with autism show signs of mitochondrial dysfunction, meaning their cells struggle to produce adequate ATP — the brain’s primary source of energy. Low cellular energy can impair neurotransmission and neuroplasticity, making it harder for the brain to adapt, learn, and regulate itself.

Our approach focuses on:

Restoring Brain Balance & Neural Communication

Customized neurological exercises and targeted sensory-integration therapies designed to strengthen underactive pathways, improve hemispheric coordination, and help the brain process information more accurately and efficiently.

Supporting Mitochondrial Health & Brain Metabolism

Advanced metabolic and nutritional strategies that enhance ATP production, stabilize mood, support emotional regulation, and improve the sustained focus and cognitive energy needed for learning and daily function.

Enhancing Neuroplasticity for Lasting Change

Therapies that stimulate the brain’s natural ability to form new, healthier neural connections—promoting better communication, improved learning capacity, and long-term functional gains.

Reducing Neuroinflammation & Restoring Clear Signaling

Protocols designed to calm inflammatory processes in the brain that can disrupt normal neural communication, improving clarity, behavior regulation, and overall neurological comfort.

Integrating Physical, Sensory & Metabolic Therapies

A whole-body rehabilitation approach that blends movement, sensory retraining, and metabolic optimization to support comprehensive neurological improvement from all angles.

Dr. Faulk combines advanced neurological testing with brain-based rehabilitation and nutritional protocols designed to target the root causes of dysfunction — not just the surface symptoms.

Hope, Progress, and Partnership

We understand that every parent’s journey is personal — and that no two children with autism are the same. Our mission is to provide answers, relief, and measurable progress where other approaches may have plateaued.

At Neurogenesis Brain & Spine, families find a partnership built on science, compassion, and hope. We don’t replace your existing therapies; we help them work better by optimizing how the brain and body function together.

Small improvements — a calmer child, better sleep, clearer words, fewer meltdowns — often lead to transformative change in a family’s daily life.

You don’t have to face this journey alone.

We’re here to help you understand your child’s brain, support their potential, and move toward a brighter, more connected future.