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Louisa Silva MD, Mark Schalock MA, Robert Ayres PHD, Carol Bunse MA, Sarojini
Budden, MD, FRCP, FAAP. The Teaching Research Institute, Western Oregon
University.
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 autonomic, 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.
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.
Table 3. Summary of MANCOVA and ANCOVA Results for Intervention Effects on
Measures of Sensory Impairment, Behavior and Developmental Skillsa
Group
Main Intervention Effect
Variable
Fb p Partial Eta2
ANCOVA
Parent Data
ANCOVA
a
Pre treatment scores used as covariates to control for individual difference.
b
MANCOVA Fs are the Pillai’s Trace.