What to Expect
The success of QST massage for autism depends on parents learning the massage correctly, adapting it to the individual child’s symptoms and responses, and following through on a daily basis for long enough to get the maximum benefit for their child. Less than daily treatment, or stopping the massage too early results in less benefit. Working with a therapist helps parents master the skills and stay on track to give long-term treatment.
STARTING THE MASSAGE
It can take several weeks for you to get comfortable with the massage. Some children have immediate improvement in sleep and behavior, other children take longer for parents to notice improvement.
INITIAL PERIOD OF DIFFICULTY
Initially, children may resist touch on several areas of the body, e.g. ears, fingers, and toes. We do not avoid these areas. These are the areas that need treatment the most. The QST autism massage protocol has specific techniques for each area of difficulty. As parents adapt the technique to their children’s responses, children work through the difficulties and touch normalizes.
CHANGES IN THE MASSAGE
After several months, many children can go through a hypersensitivity phase and the massage techniques have to be adapted. By now parents have learned to understand their child’s body language in response to massage and can consult the books for guidance on how to modify the massage.
STEADY IMPROVEMENT
After several months to a year, improvement of all the components of autism is seen. Take a look at the graph to see how things change over two years.
RECOVERY FROM AUTISM
By the end of two years, research shows that overall autism severity is 44% less, and more than half of the higher-functioning children have moved off the spectrum. We recommend that parents continue the massage until touch and other sensory responses are completely normal.
STARTING THE MASSAGE
It can take several weeks for you to get comfortable with the massage. Some children have immediate improvement in sleep and behavior, other children take longer for parents to notice improvement.
INITIAL PERIOD OF DIFFICULTY
Initially, children may resist touch on several areas of the body, e.g. ears, fingers, and toes. We do not avoid these areas. These are the areas that need treatment the most. The QST autism massage protocol has specific techniques for each area of difficulty. As parents adapt the technique to their children’s responses, children work through the difficulties and touch normalizes.
CHANGES IN THE MASSAGE
After several months, many children can go through a hypersensitivity phase and the massage techniques have to be adapted. By now parents have learned to understand their child’s body language in response to massage and can consult the books for guidance on how to modify the massage.
STEADY IMPROVEMENT
After several months to a year, improvement of all the components of autism is seen. Take a look at the graph to see how things change over two years.
RECOVERY FROM AUTISM
By the end of two years, research shows that overall autism severity is 44% less, and more than half of the higher-functioning children have moved off the spectrum. We recommend that parents continue the massage until touch and other sensory responses are completely normal.
