Research-Proven Autism Treatment for Children that Works
"We believe in safe, proven therapy for children with autism that can be given by parents at home. We believe in high quality training for parents and professionals that is accessible and affordable. We offer both."            - the QSTI team

Tools and Training to Treat Autism
​Qigong Sensory Treatment (QST) massage is a proven, touch-based autism treatment for children that parents perform for 15 minutes each day for up to two years to normalize sensory issues and reduce or eliminate symptoms of autism. Results are apparent after as few as 30 days of treatment. QST massage for autism is unique among autism treatments because it grants children access to normal development, helps them feel comfortable and connected to others, and improves lifetime outcomes.

We offer a menu of training options in the practical skills needed for parents to treat their own child and therapists to train parents and treat the full range of children. Parent training options include a self-study program, training by a qualified QST professional, and an online course. Professional training options include an online course and an onsite course
How QST Massage for Autism Works
Research shows that children with autism have early loss of child-to-parent bonding, as well as loss of the ability to feel pleasure and reassurance with parent touch. Instead they near-universally reject, avoid, or fail to notice touch. Without the ability to enjoy touch and close physical contact, children aren't socially receptive and can't be soothed by parent touch. Before long, social delay and abnormal behavior are evident.

Research shows that pleasure and bonding with gentle touch are mediated by tiny sensory nerves in the skin, and when these nerves are damaged, children lose pleasure and bonding with touch. Fortunately, the damage is reversible, and treatment with QST massage for autism returns the sense of touch to normal. This improves bonding, stimulates social development and eliminates autistic behavior.

​To read more about why touch is important in autism, click here. 

QST Massage Research
Dr. Louisa Silva is the lead researcher for QST massage and founder of QSTI. She hypothesized that if autism develops because of loss of touch, then restoring touch with QST massage should reduce autism. In 15 studies in young children with autism, she showed that treatment with QST massage decreased the severity of all aspects of autism.

After five months of treatment:
  • Sensory problems improved by 38%; touch improved by 49%
  • Autistic behavior decreased by 32%;
  • Social skills increased and children were more affectionate 
  • Receptive language increased
  • Parenting stress decreased by 44%

​After two years of treatment: 
  • There was 100% recovery of the sense of touch
  • The average decrease of autism severity was 44%
  • Over 50% of high-functioning children moved off the spectrum


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A study evaluating treatment in older children (aged 6-11) showed similar results.

QST Massage Treatment for Autism is a Breakthrough
The Qigong Sensory Treatment massage program is based on practices used in the East for thousands of years, and has successfully treated more than a thousand children in the United States since 2003. It is a breakthrough treatment for autism in three ways::
  1. It is the first treatment to improve all aspects of autism – sensory, behavioral, social, and language 
  2. It is the first treatment to be consistently effective for children with severe as well as mild autism
  3. It is the first treatment that effectively treats the sensory abnormalities in autism
We are working now to share the good news with parents and professionals and grow the organization. Please join us by helping to spread the word about QST to families and therapists, familiarizing yourself with our training options, volunteering, making a donation or helping to secure grant funding,
GETTING STARTED
​For parents starting the massage, we recommend a Parent Essentials Package that includes three products at a reduced price. The package includes the parent training book Qigong Massage for Your Child with Autism and the parent workbook My Child's First Year of QST Massage. The book and online materials will teach you what you need to know to begin the massage and the workbook will support you during your first year. We also recommend a social storybook to prepare your child for the massage. For verbal children, we recommend Qigong at Home. For non-verbal children, we recommend My Qigong Book. 

For parents who have started the QST Massage with their child and would like assistance or feedback, we offer one on one video coaching.

Some of these resources are available in other languages.