<?php

function &ahah_helper_get_form_element($form, $parents) {
  // Allow $parents to be either an array of the element's parents or the name
  // of an element.
  if (strpos($parents, ']') !== FALSE) {
    $parents = explode('][', $parents);
  }

  // Recursively seek the form element.
  if (count($parents)) {
    $parent = array_shift($parents);
    return ahah_helper_get_form_element($form[$parent], $parents);
  }
  else {
    return $form;
  }
}

// Usage:
$form_element &= ahah_helper_get_form_element($form, $form_element_name);

// Problem:
// $form_element == int(0)