March 04, 2005

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Publication Date: Friday, March 04, 2005

Piecing together the puzzle of the brain

What do you do when your 2-year-old is diagnosed with severe autism? You worry, pray and search for answers and options.

When you finally find a treatment that makes a difference, one that brings tangible, quantifiable changes to the child you love, you say thank you. Then you find a way to bring that gift to other families who are worrying, praying and searching for answers and options.

That is the story of the Hoffiz family. Three-and-a-half years ago Dan and Jennifer Hoffiz began their quest to make sure their son, Steven, would get everything he possibly could from his life, in spite of the disheartening diagnosis. They quickly learned there are no easy answers.

"No one treatment is going to 'cure' an autistic child," explained Jennifer. "Each intervention is a building block, part of a foundation. Every time something works, it is another piece of the puzzle falling into place."

Eighteen months ago the Hoffizes found their first meaningful answer, in Michigan.

"Steven's grandparents learned of a center in Michigan that works to help people with 'sensory integration dysfunction,'" said Jennifer. This neurological disorder, she explained, makes it difficult for the brain to organize sensory information such as light, sound and movement as it is received from the nervous system. Treatment includes vestibular stimulation, auditory training and phototherapy.

"These sensory interventions have proven helpful in treating autism," she said, "but the Michigan center was taking these concepts to a whole new level. We talked it over with our doctor and decided to give it a try."

Steven showed marked improvement soon after starting the program.

"He was making eye contact, responding to us verbally, and his fine muscle control was improving," said Jennifer. "In fact, in three months he went from illegible scrawling to clearly writing his name. For us, it was absolutely incredible."

After returning home to California, Dan and Jennifer knew this was a gift they had to share. They left their respective careers and in November 2004, opened the Sensory Center in Pleasanton.

"We know the challenges faced by people who suffer from sensory integration dysfunction," Jennifer said. "And we know the benefits this program offers; how could we be anything but dedicated to making that available to others?"

Jennifer explained the way the program works by comparing sensory integration disorder to allergies.

"People are allergic to different things," she began, "and bodies react differently to those stimulants. One person might walk through a field of grass and flowers and have no difficulty at all. A person with allergies walks through the same field and their bodies are unable to process the same stimulants. Their bodies respond with sneezing, hives, itching, etc.

"A similar reaction occurs to people with sensory integration disorders. When their bodies react to sensory stimulants like light, sounds or movement, their ability to learn and interact with others is negatively affected."

Just as allergy shots desensitize the body to allergens, the Sensory Center's program helps retrain the brain, desensitizing it to the input it receives going through daily life.

"Light is a great example," said Jennifer. "Some people just can't process certain colors. When exposed to those colors, the body reacts. Fluorescent lights, which are used in most schools, produce a lot of light in the red spectrum. If a child cannot process the color red, the child cannot excel in that environment. His brain will be overwhelmed by the stimulation."

The Sensory Center utilizes an oscillating motion bed, phototherapy and modulated music to put the brain through the "exercises" that work to combat integration disorders. In a pitch-black room, the client lies upon the bed as it moves seamlessly through eight different motions. Headphones play pleasant music in a variety of frequencies while directly overhead a light shines one of 20 different colors.

This in-house series lasts 11 days; two sessions per day, one half hour each session. The remainder of the month-long program takes place at home, as the individual continues phototherapy treatment using a portable light instrument provided by the center.

Pete Henebury and his 6-year-old son Jacob are grateful to have found the Sensory Center. Originally thought to have a hearing disorder, Jacob was eventually diagnosed with high-functioning autism. At Jacob's final in-house session Pete was optimistic, stating, "It's only been 11 days and we see improvement in his speech and his ability to concentrate. And it sounds kind of funny, but Jacob's becoming a little more mischievous, doing things that a normal 6-year-old might do, but he has been too inhibited to do them before."

Jennifer pointed out that improvement can be expected for six to nine months after treatment is completed.

"Some people see differences right away, for others it takes a little longer," she said. "But it takes a while to know the program's full effects."

Lilia Fregoso of Oakland can attest to that. Her son, Matteo, was just 3 when diagnosed with autism.

"When he started a day school program, we saw improvement for the first year," Lilia said. "Then he started going downhill. We tried a lot of different avenues, but we had no success."

Matteo is hyperacoustic - extremely sensitive to noise - which made life with a new baby brother very difficult.

"The baby would cry and it would set Matteo off; there was no way he could be in the same room with a crying baby," said his mother.

A friend told the Fregosos about the Sensory Center, and Matteo is now a different child. "We are near the end of the at-home session, and the change has been big for us," reported Lilia. "He makes eye contact, talks more, and when his brother cries, Matteo sits next to him and shows us he is sad for the baby."

Five-year-old Andrew Goddin has also benefited from his time at the Sensory Center. As he sat calmly watching "Finding Nemo" in the center's waiting room, his mother, Deanna, pointed out how that alone is progress.

"When we first started coming here in January, Andrew was climbing the furniture. He now makes transitions from one setting to another without a huge problem," said Deanna. "Our home life is easier. And he has really enjoyed the program. For him, it is 'alone time' with mom and dad."

Even with all the success stories, Dan and Jennifer Hoffiz are quick to point out that nothing is a guarantee. "Before we ever start a program, we do an assessment to make sure that an individual's situation is right for this treatment. We look at each client's diagnosis, symptoms and history. If we determine that our program fits a person's needs, we have a lot of confidence that there are attainable benefits."

While the initial assessment is always complimentary, the program's $2,500 fee can be prohibitive. To that end, the Hoffizs have started a not-for-profit foundation to offer scholarships and financial assistance to individuals who cannot afford the program.

"Our goal is to make sure everyone who could benefit from sensory integration has that opportunity," said Jennifer. "Establishing the not-for-profit is a good step toward that."

Steven Hoffiz is currently attending Montair Elementary in Danville, where he spends half the day in a class that addresses his special needs. Developmentally, he is only nine to 11 months behind his peers, a miracle to Dan and Jennifer.

Steven's progress inspires the Hoffizs to offer daily prayers of thanks and reaffirms their commitment to bring this piece of the puzzle to others.

The Sensory Center

The center's program is also an appropriate intervention for ADD & ADHD; Asperger's Disorder; delays; dyslexia; Childhood Disintegrative Disorder; birth trauma; acquired brain injury; dysfunctional sensory integration; learning and behavior problems; and learning enhancement. Visit www.sensorycenter.com.

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