Therapies for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Behavior Checklist. Children with bowel or sleep difficulties in the treatment group improved
according to parent report.
A 2008 case series assessed whether individuals completing an 80 hour training program
could deliver qigong massage yielding positive adaptive behavior and sensory outcomes. 282 The
qigong sensory training curriculum for trainers included didactic and experiential instruction;
during the 5 month intervention, each of the 18 trainers worked with two families with a
supervisor present for several sessions to assess treatment fidelity; several treatment sessions
were also videotaped to inform training efforts. Participants showed gains in sensory and
adaptive behavior, and most trainers were considered to have mastered the training program.
A later multisite RCT assessing a similar qigong methodology modified for application in
early intervention programs 285 included 46 children between the ages of 3 and 6 and evaluated
participants in both the home and preschool settings. Children were randomized to either Qigong
Sensory Training, comprising 10 hours of practitioner-delivered therapy in addition to daily
parent-delivered massage. Practitioners, including some early intervention personnel, received
training and weekly supervision during the intervention period. Six therapy sessions were also
videotaped over the course of the project to assess treatment fidelity. Assessments were
conducted prior to the intervention, after the final massage session, and 5 months after the final
session (parent-report) to evaluate maintenance of effects.
The Qigong group (n=25, mean age=65.2 ± 20.7 months) and wait list control group (n=21,
mean age=53.3 ± 18.7 months) differed significantly in parent-rated Pervasive Developmental
Disorder Behavior Inventory Social/Communication and Autism composite scores (p