A controlled study of a qigong massage treatment for sensory impairment in autism

Background: Autism is commonly associated with disturbances of the sensory nervous system, digestion and sleep.

Objectives: to evaluate a treatment for autism based on a model that proposes autism is a global condition in which the primary impairment is sensory, and the developmental delay and abnormal behavior are secondary. Treatment is directed at sensory impairment, digestion and sleep, and allows the child to be more comfortable, more aware, and better able to pay attention and learn. The result of treatment is movement towards normal on the autism spectrum. Hypothesis: A five-month qigong massage intervention aimed at improving the function of multiple physiological systems will significantly improve the severity of autism as measured by standardized tests of behavior and language/social abilities.

Methods: A randomized, controlled trial design was employed with 46 children assigned to intervention or wait-list control conditions. Pre/post testing was done by blinded pre-school teachers and parents. The intervention is two-pronged with parents and trained staff giving children a parent or trainer version of the protocol directed at selected acupuncture channels and points. Setting/Participants: Home and Educational Service District-based training program. A volunteer sample of children & parents completed the program. Selection criteria were: 1) age under six 2) educational diagnosis of autism 3) no additional medical diagnoses. Standardized tests were used: Vineland, Pervasive Developmental Disorder Behavioral Inventory and Autism Behavior Checklist. Changes in sensory impairment, digestion and sleep were evaluated by parent questionnaire.

Results: Blinded teacher evaluations showed treated children had significant improvement of language/social skills (p<.04) and reduction in autistic behavior (p<.03) compared to controls. Parent data confirmed the findings (p<.01) and showed stability of results at ten months.

Conclusions: This research indicates that children receiving the five-month qigong massage intervention had significant improvement of measures of autism. Regression analysis gave support to the autism model proposed.