Frequently Asked Questions
1. Tell me more about Dr. O'Hara
2. Are there other associates in the practice?
3. Can you give me some specifics on Dr. O'Hara's practice?
4. How do we get started?
5. What happens during an initial visit?
6. Do you require any additional information other than the questionnaire prior to the initial consultation?
7. What happens after the initial consultation?
8. Exactly what types of patients are included in your practice?
9. What is Mild Hyperbaric Therapy?
10. What is BioSet?
11. What is Neurofeedback?
12. After the initial exam, what contact will we have with Dr. O'Hara?
13. Will you become my child's pediatrician?
14. If I do not have a peditrician, can you recommend one for my child?
15. Can you offer any prognosis of my child's improvement in your care?
16. Is your practice covered by insurance?
17. What happens if I have to cancel my appointment with Dr. O'Hara?
18. If my child is diagnosed with a special need other than Autism, or is too old for your practice, can you recommend a treatment for my child?
19. Ho do I arrange an initial appointment?
20. What are your fees?
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions:
- Tell me more about Dr. O’Hara: Nancy O’Hara is a board certified pediatrician. Prior to her medical career Dr. O’Hara taught children with autism. She graduated magna cum laude from Bryn Mawr College and as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society from the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine. She earned a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh. After residency, chief residency and general pediatric fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. O’ Hara was in private practice for 8 years. Over the last several years, Dr. O’Hara has been working with Dr. Sidney Baker and other practitioners from
Defeat Autism Now!®, in the research and care of children with autistic spectrum disorder. For the last 8 years, she has dedicated all of her practice to the integrative and holistic care of children with neurodevelopmental disorders and Autistic Spectrum Disorder.
Back to Top
- Are there other associates in the practice? Yes, there are other practitioners who work with Dr. O’Hara to provide a full range of consultative services to our patients.
Ms. Vicki Kobliner, MS, R.D., is a registered dietitian and Defeat Autism Now!® Practitioner. She received a bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a master’s degree in Nutrition from Oregon State University. After completing her internship at Oregon Health Sciences University/Portland VMAC, Ms. Kobliner returned to Connecticut. She has been practicing for 9 years and has been treating children in the autism spectrum for over five years.
Gail Szakacs, MD, is board certified in Internal Medicine and a Defeat Autism Now!® physician. Dr. Szakacs graduated from Hamilton College in 1995 with honors. After three years of working in the health-care field and doing medical research, she attended St. George’s University School of Medicine where she was a member of the Iota Epsilon Alpha International Medicine Honor Society. After completing an Internal Medicine residency at St. Michael’s Medical Center (a Seton Hall University program) in Newark, NJ, Dr. Szakacs worked as a Hospitalist in CT. She first met Dr. O’Hara through personal involvement with Autism and the Defeat Autism Now!® group. In September 2006, Dr. Szakacs began a mentor program with Dr. O’Hara and subsequently joined her practice in January 2007.
Ms. Lori Coda, MS, SpEd., is a behavioral therapist. Lori has a BA in Psychology, a Masters in Special Education, and Postmasters degree training in T.E.A.C.H. and DTI. She has 18 years of Special Education experience and 10 years experience working with children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. She offers a range of therapies including, neurofeedback, listening therapy and social skills groups.
Ms. Lauren Lee Stone, PhD, is an advanced BioSet practitioner. Lauren came to BioSet in the search to heal her own children and chose to make it a career after experiencing its success first hand. In addition to a BA from Yale University and a Ph.D. from Cornell University, Lauren has a Masters in Human Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport and advanced certification in BioSet.Ms. Sheila Ring Reed, LCSW, CHHP, BEP is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a board certified Holistic Healthcare practitioner and BioEnergetic practitioner who specializes in homotoxicology. Sheila came to BioEnergetic medicine after seeing the success it has had healing her own children and now offers holistic healthcare which incorporates homotoxicology to adults and children. Sheila has a B.A. in Sociology/Applied Social Relations, a B.A in Psychology and a Masters Degree in Social Work along with certifications in homotoxicology and BioEnergetic Medicine.
Ms. Marina Derman is a Special Education Advocate who works with families throughout the state of CT to gain appropriate educational programming for their children. She is the mother of two children on the autism spectrum and has been a practicing advocate since 2002. She received her advocacy training through the CT Autism Spectrum Resource Center in New Haven.
Ms. Tracey Taylor, M.S.W. is a licensed social worker. She has extensive experience working with families with special needs. She offers Parent Support Groups to incorporate coping strategies and valuable resources with others who face the same challenges, one-on-one counseling with children, siblings and older children with ASD, ADHD, OCD. She has a B.S. from Ithaca College and M.S.W. from the University of Connecticut.
Back to Top - Can you give me some specifics on Dr. O’Hara’s practice? Dr. O’Hara’s practice integrates the care of children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders and other neurodevelopmental disorders including ADHD and Down’s Syndrome through a consultative, individualized approach following many
Defeat Autism Now!® protocols. We work with families to integrate their therapies, medications and other interventions in a thorough and holistic fashion. We examine the biochemical, immunologic, environmental and nutritional aspects of a child’s health and assimilate all of this information in forming an individual protocol for each child. This effort is very time consuming for us and for you as parents. However, we believe that the time spent is well worth the results that we are seeing.
Back to Top - How do we get started? After reviewing this document, a deposit is paid to Dr. O’Hara authorizing her practice to release a comprehensive questionnaire. Both parents, if practicable, should complete the questionnaire and return as soon as possible. The questionnaire is then reviewed by Dr. O’Hara and Ms. Kobliner and Dr. Szakacs as necessary. An action plan with initial recommendations is formulated, which likely includes various aspects of laboratory testing. The first visit validates and modifies, as necessary, the action plan and recommendations.
Back to Top - What happens during an initial visit? The initial consultation with child and both parents will last anywhere from 2 - 3 hours. We strongly advise that both parents participate in the initial consultation. At the initial consultation, Dr. O’Hara and either Ms. Kobliner or Dr. Szakacs will review your child’s history, conduct a nutritional physical examination and observe your child’s interactions with you and with us, and with toys. Dr. O’Hara and Ms. Kobliner or Dr. Szakacs will discuss how they see your child’s history and development as it pertains to a biomedical approach to autism and will present a detailed treatment plan for your child. In addition, during the course of the first visit, a behavioral evaluation will be conducted in our offices by Lori Coda, behavioral therapist. Lori will work separately with your child for approximately an hour while you are meeting with Dr. O’Hara and Ms. Kobliner or Dr. Szakacs.
Back to Top - Do you require any additional information other than the questionnaire prior to the initial consultation? It is important that you include with your submitted materials any lab tests, evaluations (medical, psychological or therapeutic) or other previous testing your child has done. It is also necessary to provide our office with your child’s height and weight growth charts. This can generally be obtained from your pediatrician.
Back to Top - What happens after the initial consultation? We will provide you with a detailed plan, which may include recommendations for new therapies or changes to existing therapies, blood, urine, stool and/or other testing, the use of supplements and medications and possible dietary changes with supporting menu resources. In addition, a Behavioral Assessment Report highlighting recommendations for behavioral therapies will be completed. These behavioral therapies can be delivered through Dr. O’Hara’s practice or through any external behavioral therapist. The first follow-up consultation (which may be via telephone) will be scheduled for approximately one month after the first visit with either Ms. Kobliner or Dr. Szakacs. This will focus on the results of recommended tests and further treatment/therapy plans. Future follow-up consultations will occur as needed every 2 - 3 months. However, patients of the practice must be seen by one of the physicians at least once per year. Follow-up may include:
* On-going treatment and therapies based upon test results and responses to recommended IV- therapie
* Hyperbaric Therapy
* Neurofeedback
* Bioset
* Mental Health Therapy and Counseling for parents and/or child
* Social Skills Groups
* Dynamic Listening Therapies
As other therapies and/or interventions become known through research they may be recommended, as appropriate.
Back to Top - Exactly what types of patients are included in your practice? Our practice treats children and young adults in the autistic spectrum (including PDD, PDD-NOS and Asperger’s Syndrome). We also treat allergies, ADHD and other similar diagnoses.
Back to Top - What is Mild Hyperbaric Therapy? Mild Hyperbaric Therapy (mHBOT) is a safe, effective way to get more oxygen into the body at the cellular level by using pressurized air chambers. According to the Law of Physics, an increase in atmospheric pressure allows for more gas to be dissolved into any given liquid. Oxygen exists as a gas at room temperature, and the human body is made up almost entirely of water. The chamber used at our office uses filtered ambient air with an additional oxygen concentrator to safely administer oxygen to the body with many therapeutic benefits including decreased inflammation. By allowing more oxygen to penetrate otherwise oxygen deficient areas, relief for many common ailments can be sought because mHBOT enables the body to carry out oxygen dependent processes by dissolving oxygen directly into the blood and plasma.
Back to Top - What is BioSet? BioSet is a gentle, drug free means of eliminating food intolerances and environmental sensitivities. BioSet measures the body’s energy flow using either electro-dermal screening techniques or muscle testing. By introducing the energetic signature of a potentially reactive substance into the body’s energy field, the BioSet practitioner can determine whether or not a person is reactive or “allergic” to the substance in question. If the body is reactive or blocked (weak), a reactivity or sensitivity is present. By activating specific acupressure points along the spine, the BioSet practitioner is able to “clear” the blockage and thereby clear the sensitivity. Once the blockage is cleared and the energy flow is strong, the physical symptoms associated with the sensitivity will also clear.
Back to Top - What is Neurofeedback? Neurofeedback is direct training of the brain, which then learns to function with greater control and stability. It is actually brain exercise. We observe the brain in action from moment to moment by monitoring brain waves. We show your brain activity and help to change it by rewarding shifts toward a more appropriate and stable brain state. This is a gradual process. It applies to any aspect of the brain function that can be measured. Neurofeedback is also called EEG biofeedback, because it is based on electrical brain activity, the electroencephalogram, or EEG. The EEG is a way to record brain waves. In this context, biofeedback refers to the process by which you learn to change your brain waves and thereby change your control of brain states. Neurofeedback is training by self regulation. It is simply biofeedback applied to the brain directly. Self regulation is a necessary part of good brain function. Self regulation training allows the central nervous system to function better.
Back to Top - After the initial exam, what contact will we have with Dr. O’Hara? As mentioned above, future contacts after the Initial Consultation will be by phone conversation or office visit. Follow-up consultations are charged at the rate of $450/hour with Dr.O’Hara, $350/hour with Gail Szakacs, M.D. and $225/hour with Vicki Kobliner, or portion thereof. The fees for other treatments are detailed below.
Back to Top - Will you become my child’s pediatrician? No. You will continue to see your regular pediatrician as required.
Back to Top - If I do not have a pediatrician, can you recommend one for my child? Depending on where you live, we may be able to give you some suggestions.
Back to Top
- Can you offer any prognosis of my child’s improvement in your care? At the present time there is no cure for autism. Our goal is to maximize the treatment of your child so that he/she can live at his/her fullest potential. Use of the DAN! Protocol and integration of several therapies has produced some dramatic improvements and recovery in many patients to-date.
Back to Top - Is your practice covered by insurance? Dr. O’Hara is a sole practitioner and as such is unable to accept any insurance. Also, she is considered an out-of-network provider. It is your responsibility to contact your insurance company before committing to our program to determine the exact policies of your insurance company. We will, of course, provide all of the documentation required by your insurer.
Back to Top - What happens if I have to cancel my appointment with Dr. O’Hara? Because of the great amount of preparation time required prior to the first meeting or Initial Consultation, we require a minimum of 2 weeks advanced notice when canceling. Less than two weeks notice will incur a cancellation fee of $750 or half the initial consultation fee. The only exception would be for an extreme medical emergency.
Back to Top - If my child is diagnosed with a special need other than Autism, or is too old for your practice, can you recommend a treatment for my child? Without a personal examination, we are unable to make such recommendations.
Back to Top - How do I arrange an initial appointment? After reviewing the questions and answers above, if you are interested in becoming a part of our practice, please return the enclosed form and deposit. We will then send you our questionnaire and additional information. Also, you can download our questionnaire and patient forms from our website (www.drohara.com). When we receive your completed questionnaire we will call you to arrange an initial consultation.
Back to Top - What are your fees? Fees are based upon the type of service provided. Our current fees are as follows:
Initial Consultation $1,500 Initial Adult Consultation with Dr. Szakacs only $750 Initial Pediatric Consultation at satellite office with Dr. O'Hara or Dr. Szakacs only $750 Follow-up Consultation with Dr. O'Hara* $450/hr or part thereof Follow-up Consultation with Dr. Szakacs* $350/hr or part thereof Follow-up Consultation with Ms. Kobliner* $225/hr or part thereof NeuroFeedback Sessions $450 for initial assessment plus $165 for each session or $3,300 for initial assessment plus 20 sessions paid in advance Behavioral Therapy Session / Dynamic Listening Therapy Session $165 for one hour session BioSet Session $135 for one hour session Hard Chamber HBOT $4,000 for 20 sessions paid in advance Hard Chamber HBOT with Pre- and Post-Treatment Behavioral Evaluation $4,500 for 20 sessions paid in advance Soft Chamber HBOTwith Oxygen Concentrator - Call office for details $2,250 per month rental fee Mental Health Counseling Session Call for pricing Legal Advocacy Session $95 for one hour session
* Consultations may be in person or by phone with a minimum billing increment of 15 minutes.
Back to Top
