Early intervention for autism with a parent-delivered Qigong massage program: a randomized controlled trial.
A recent randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a dual parent and trainer-delivered qigong massage intervention for young children with autism resulted in improvement of measures of autism as well as improvement of abnormal sensory responses and self-regulation. The RCT evaluated the effects of the parent-delivered component of the intervention. Forty-seven children were randomly assigned to treatment and wait-list control groups. Treatment group children received the parent-delivered program for 4 mo. Trained therapists provided parent training and support. Improvement was evaluated in two settings--preschool and home--by teachers (blind to group) and parents. Results showed that the parent-delivered program was effective in improving measures of autism (medium effect size) and sensory and self-regulatory responses (large effect size). Teacher data on measures of autism were confirmed by parent data. Results indicate that the parent-delivered component of the program provided effective early intervention for autism that was suitable for delivery at home.
Teaching Research Institute, Western Oregon University, P.O. Box 688, Salem, OR 97308, USA. Imtsilvaqigong@comcast.net
Louisa M T
LM
Silva
Mark
M
Schalock
Kristen
K
Gabrielsen
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D054626:Consumer Health Information; D061345:Early Medical Intervention; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage / Q000379:methods*; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000379:methods*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012574:Schools; D016896:Treatment Outcome