We are releasing Dr. Robert Melillo’s TED Talk here, for you to watch and decide for yourself. For over 30 years, Dr. Melillo dedicated his life to understanding the brain. He has taught it at an academic level, published research, and simplified complex ideas to help parents and families. When TED accepted him to give a talk, he knew his groundbreaking work on brain development and hemispheric balance was an idea worth sharing. But TED decided to censor his talk! One of his goals as an adult was to be invited to give a TED Talk. He has been a big fan of TED Talks since their inception, as he’s always loved the idea of bringing cutting-edge ideas to the world. His work and research are undeniably innovative, and while the mainstream, conservative medical and scientific communities may discount it, we know it is scientifically valid and represents the future. The TED tagline, “Ideas worth spreading,” felt like a perfect fit for his work. Eventually, he was invited to give a TEDx Talk. The process was rigorous—almost like an audition—but the talk was accepted. This particular TEDx program was one of the earliest in the country and was well-respected. He worked tirelessly for months, refining his presentation to fit the 18-minute format. The hardest part was distilling over 30 years of research into such a short timeframe. He decided to focus on two key elements: brain development and hemispheric balance, both of which he has published on extensively in the scientific community. He rehearsed for countless hours, and when the day came, he delivered the talk, albeit with a bit of nervousness. He completed it in almost exactly 18 minutes, and it turned out exactly as he had envisioned. His wife, who was there to watch, said it was the best talk she’d ever seen me give—a high compliment coming from her. This was right after we were emerging from the pandemic, a time when censorship in the healthcare community was rampant, especially for voices outside the mainstream. After delivering my TEDx Talk, he was eager to share it with the world. He was certain it would get millions of views and make a real impact. However, he received a message from the organizers informing him that four talks from the program, including his, had been red-flagged for further review. They explained that this had never happened before, and it was clear that the sensitivity of the reviewers had changed. They claimed he had made statements that were not considered “mainstream” and requested supporting research. Dr. Melillo sent them over 100 references, including his own research and work from others, to substantiate everything he had said. Despite this, their final decision was to withhold the talk from the TEDx website. As you might guess, he was upset. He appealed the decision, but they never provided a clear explanation. Even when Dr. Melillo sent his most recent peer-reviewed papers, which supported all of his claims, he received no response. Over the years, he has shared the video privately with others, and everyone has loved it, insisting that it deserves to be seen. There has been growing criticism of TEDx in recent years for publishing talks on topics that some find trivial while rejecting groundbreaking, innovative ideas. This feels like a betrayal of what TED was supposed to represent—the exchange of bold, forward-thinking ideas. We believe his talk was censored because the information was too advanced. Mainstream academics in psychology often don’t fully understand the brain the way Dr. Melillo does, so they dismissed his work as something they couldn’t believe was true. Because he has spent decades teaching brain science at the academic level and writing for parents in a way that makes the complex simple, his talk is easy to understand. Ironically, its simplicity may have been another reason it was rejected—it made sense to people in a way that challenged the conventional thinkers in the field. In the end, this experience only fuels his determination. He continues to publish more research, work harder, help more people, and ensure that his ideas are shared. Now, he has decided to listen to the many people who have urged him to release this talk. So here it is: https://youtu.be/SncfM3psX-Q Censorship stifles progress, and we believe people are smart enough to decide for themselves what is valuable. Take the time to watch this talk. If you feel it is truly an “idea worth spreading,” we encourage you to share it. |
One of the most respected specialists in childhood neurological disorders in America, Dr. Robert Melillo has been helping children overcome learning disabilities for over 30 years. His areas of expertise include: autism spectrum disorders, PDD/NOS, ADD/ADHD, OCD, dyslexia, Asperger’s, Tourette’s, bipolar disorder, and other mental, attention, behavioral and learning disorders. He is also an expert in diet, nutrition and neuroimmune disorders in children and adults.
As a clinician for 30 years, a university professor, brain researcher, best selling author, radio and TV host, his cutting-edge research and success with over a thousand children in his private program are what led to the creation of Brain Balance Achievement Centers. Dr. Melillo has a private practice now that helps adults and children with various learning disabilities. He is focused on addressing the primary issue in most learning disabilities and behavioral disorders which is known as a functional disconnection. Since he introduced this concept, functional disconnection has become one of the leading theories in the world related to Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia and more. This work is leading the way toward understanding the underlying nature of these disorders and their causes.
He is the creator of the Melillo Method® that we use at NeuroFiT Connections to help children overcome neurological disorders in Eastern North Carolina.
