Improvement in Sensory Impairment and Social Interaction in Young Children with Autism following Treatment with an Original Qigong Massage Methodology

In clinical research, sensory impairment is considered one of the core deficits in autism and is associated with impaired socialization, behavioral disturbances and bowel and sleep problems. The effectiveness of the Cignolini methodology, an original Qigong massage methodology, in treating sensory impairment in young children with autism was evaluated in a randomized, controlled study. Thirteen children with autism between the ages of three and six received daily treatment according to the methodology for five months. Compared with untreated children, treated children experienced measurable and significant improvement of their sensory impairment, and demonstrated increased social skills and basic living skills on standardized measures. In addition, all of the children with bowel and sleep abnormalities demonstrated improvement following treatment.      

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Silva, L., Cignolini A., Warren, R., Skowron-Gooch, A., & Budden, S. (2007). Improvement in sensory impairment and social interaction in young children with autism following treatment with an original qigong massage methodology. American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 35(3), 393-406.