“His behaviour, attention span, listening skills and his executive delivery immediately began to improve.”

Calogera, mother to a nine-year-old boy, discovered Mente following her son’s Autism diagnosis.

“The pain of having his condition confirmed was like a knife turning in our stomachs,” Calogera admits. “I had a feeling of utter powerlessness. It was a vice-like grip on your throat which takes your breath away and doesn’t allow you to sleep at night.”

The support of those around her did little to reassure Calogera. “When everyone says to you: ‘I understand ….’, I reply no, you cannot understand.”

Finding Mente

Calogera started the process of seeking professional advice, but feels that the Neuropsychiatric Childrens’ departments were not able to provide adequate assistance or advise her on how to improve their situation. “Rather than answer my questions, it felt like I was being judged. They would say: ‘You see? We call him and he doesn’t come.’” 

Calogera then did independent research online and started to record notes about her son’s behavior and physical wellbeing. “I noticed that my son was experiencing intestinal problems and then serious inflammation issues begin to emerge. Over the years, I dealt with his physical and metabolic problems and he starts to blossom again with dietary changes alone.”

Her son also commenced a range of therapies from speech therapy, to psychomotricity and neurological reorganization. “My research eventually led me to a particular therapy involving neurofeedback,” Calogera explains. “He immediately accepted the device and listened at once to the 40-minute session. To see his development in the progress charts and to note the real improvement in my son made me understand immediately that, in the construction of the ‘Autism’ puzzle, Mente was a very important piece for us.”

Progress in the classroom

His behaviour, attention span, listening skills and his executive delivery immediately began to improve. “To date my son reads, writes and follows the curriculum of the class. His conduct is almost indistinguishable. In the street he also walks by himself, he watches out for vehicles, plays, laughs and entertains himself, loves being with children, walking to school and learning. Over the years, tears have been transformed into strength and a willingness to do and improve.”

A complementary therapy

To other parents, Calogera has a clear message: “You have the strength to keep an eye on your child and to fight for them. Even if he doesn’t empathise with you, doesn’t look for you, doesn’t speak to you, you work hard and one day all these things will happen. I would recommend ‘Mente’ which complements medical therapies and cures. Do not despair – the sun will shine on you as well!”

Calogera – Italy, July 2019

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