A parent's view of treatment

``A QUESTION OF `tough love' vs. torture" was the headline of a story by Scott Allen (City & Region, May 22). Surprisingly, a picture of me with my daughter Nicole appeared underneath -- but nothing from my interview with Mr. Allen. Printing my story would have let readers know that Nicole suffers from Landau-Kleffner syndrome, a rare epilepsy often misdiagnosed as autism. The epilepsy impaired her communication and led to increasing frustration and extreme self-abusive behavior.

Nicole attended top behavioral schools and was treated with drug and behavioral therapy without success. After consultation with our neurologist and judicial approval, she began skin shock therapy at the Judge Rotenberg Center. After two days, there was a reduction of self-inflicted punches to her eyes and head from 1,400 per week to one every three to five weeks. She is improving and spends her days learning, communicating, and developing healthier behaviors.

Our kids are one punch away from going blind or killing themselves, and we need effective treatments that work quickly with minimal side effects. It would be a terrible injustice to deprive a child of such an effective treatment, simply because it makes some adults feel more comfortable.

THE REV. DEACON RICARDO MESA
West Roxbury