Date Presented 4/1/2017
Preliminary results of an evidence-based pilot project with young children with or at risk for autism demonstrated that Qigong Sensory Training promoted participation in everyday occupations by improving sensory processing and self-regulation by 18% and decreasing parenting stress by 30%.
Primary Author and Speaker: Orit Tal-Atzili
PURPOSE: Children with autism are frequently referred to occupational therapy due to extreme sensory processing and self-regulation abnormalities that pose significant barriers to their participation in everyday occupations. Studies show that tactile interventions (e.g., massage) are effective in improving outcomes for young children with autism. Qigong Sensory Training (QST) is a touch-based intervention that was developed for children with autism based on Chinese medicine. Multiple studies provide strong evidence that QST is effective in normalizing sensory processing and self-regulation and in decreasing overall autism severity and parenting stress. The purpose of the project presented in this poster is to examine whether the evidence-based QST intervention is effective and practical when implemented as part of the individual family service plan in early intervention. The clinical question that guides the project is, Will parents of children with or at risk for autism who are enrolled in Part C early intervention report improvements in their child’s sensory processing and self-regulation, as well as a decrease in parenting stress, after implementing QST for 5 mo?
DESIGN: This pilot project used a single-group pretest–posttest quasi-experimental design with six children. Participants were recruited by service providers at a Part C early intervention program in Maryland. Children were eligible if they were ages 18–54 mo, had a diagnosis of autism or were identified to be at risk for autism by the Modified Checklist of Autism for Toddlers or by the clinical opinion of their service providers, and scored in the atypical range on the Sense and Self-Regulation Checklist. Parents were eligible if they were in good health and proficient in English and had no significant physical limitations, decreased hand sensation, or severely impaired vision. Children were excluded if they had other medical or developmental diagnoses, took certain medications, or started another intensive treatment during the project.
METHOD: For the first 6 wk, the presenter provided two weekly home visits to treat children and coach parents in the application of the QST protocol, and parents implemented the QST protocol with their children daily. Interim posttests were completed after those 6 wk. Two parent-rated checklists that were found valid and reliable in differentiating autism were used to measure outcomes. The Sense and Self-Regulation Checklist measured children’s sensory processing and self-regulation, and the Autism Parenting Stress Index measured parenting stress. In addition, the parents documented their daily QST implementation in order to provide data about parents’ fidelity and children’s responses to QST. Descriptive statistics, including means and percentages, were used to analyze the data.
RESULTS: Four of the six children demonstrated improved scores after the first 6 wk of QST implementation, with a mean decrease of 18% in abnormal sensory processing and self-regulation behaviors and a mean decrease of 30% in parenting stress (n = 6). These preliminary results are promising and suggest that QST can be an effective and practical intervention when provided as an occupational therapy service through a parent coaching model in a Part C early intervention setting. Based on results from previous QST studies, further improvements are expected at the end of the 5-mo project.
CONCLUSION: This pilot project supports a widespread use of the evidence-based QST intervention to benefit families and children with autism. The project promotes occupational therapy as a science-driven, evidence-based profession that improves clients’ well-being and participation in everyday occupations.
References
Silva, L. M. T., Schalock, M., Ayres, R., Bunse, C., & Budden, S. (2009). Qigong massage treatment for sensory and self-regulation problems in young children with autism: A randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 63, 423–432. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.63.4.423
Silva, L. M. T., Schalock, M., & Gabrielsen, K. (2011). Early intervention for autism with a parent-delivered qigong massage program: A randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 65, 550–559. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2011.000661
Silva, L. M. T., Schalock, M., Gabrielsen, K., Budden, A. S., Buenrostro, M., & Horton, G. (2015). Early intervention with a parent-delivered massage protocol directed at tactile abnormalities decreases severity of autism and improves child-to-parent interaction: A replication study. Autism Research and Treatment, 2015, 904585. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/904585
