Acupressure and Acupuncture as an Intervention with Children with Autism
Completed
Warren, Lana
Hugo W. Moser Research at Kennedy Krieger, Inc.
$180,353.00
2 years
Treatment
Baltimore
MD
United States
2008
Traditional Chinese medicine, including acupressure and acupuncture, may provide a new approach to treating behavioral problems in children with autism. Traditional Chinese medicine approaches autism, like all other disorders, as an energy imbalance that can be addressed by stimulating specific energy points and pathways. The present study aims to develop a methodology for introducing acupressure and acupuncture to children with ASD and their parents. In a small randomized trial, researchers will assess whether intervention with acupressure/acupuncture improves attention, sleep, and behavioral problems. They will also examine the effect of parent-administered acupressure on parent-child relationships. Acupressure and acupuncture could be a useful complement to conventional medicines and therapies in treating the symptoms of autism.
