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๐ Qigong Sensory Treatment (QST) is an evidence-based, proven, touch-based autism intervention 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.
๐ Results are cumulative and can be apparent in as few as 30 days of treatment.
๐ QST is based on practices used in the East for thousands of years.
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QST is unique in 3 ways:
- It is the first treatment to improve all aspects of autism โ sensory, behavioural, social and language.
- It is the first treatment to be consistently effective for children with severe as well as mild autism.
- It is the first treatment that effectively treats the sensory abnormalities in autism.
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Typical Outcomes of QST*
โ Improved sleep
โ Improved digestion (relief of constipation or diarrhea)
โย Increase in appetite
โ Helps with picky eating
โ Counteracts toe walking
โ Reduces or eliminates head banging
โ Helps with potty training
โ Improves receptive and expressive communication (speech and language)
โ Promotes eye contact and social connections
โ Restores normal sensation to the skin (reduces tactile defensiveness)
โ Boosts the immune system
โ Clears toxins from the organs and promotes organ health and function
โ Promotes self-soothing and emotional regulation
โ Increases tolerance for frustration and reduces aggressive behaviour
โ Helps with transitions
โ Increases attention/focus
โ Improves learning
โ Decreases parenting stress
โ Autism severity can decrease by 10-30%
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*Success is dependent on parentsโ ability to provide the intervention correctly and consistently (daily) at home. Individual results may vary. Younger children (Age 6 and under) typically have better results but the intervention has been proven to be successful up to the age of 12 according to research published in scientific journals, and beyond the age of 12 with anecdotal results.
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What To Expect
๐ The intervention consists of a massage which is a sequence of 12 different movements that are completed in a specific order. The movements in the massage are based on the principles of Chinese Medicine and have been developed specifically to treat children with autism.
๐ The massage is completed on the full body, over the clothing.
๐ For optimal results, 20 treatment sessions are typically required over a 5 month period.
๐ During treatment sessions, the occupational therapist will provide the massage to the child as well as train parents in how to provide the massage with the correct form and attune the massage according to the childโs responses and changing needs.
๐ The first appointment will take approximately 2 hours and will include a sensory assessment of the child (including standardized and non-standardized assessments and a health history). Parents will then be taught how to perform the massage and the child will receive their first massage by the occupational therapist.
๐ Subsequent appointments will take approximately 45-60 minutes and the child will receive a massage by the occupational therapist. Sessions will also focus on parent training and modification of the massage based on the childโs responses and progression.
๐ Parents are required to be present and participate during every visit. Reading materials and resources will be provided to parents prior to and during the intervention to help them understand and provide the intervention effectively.
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Additional Resources
Click here to watch Dr. Silva discuss how QST works:
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It is highly recommended that parents purchase this manual prior to starting the intervention.
Paperback: https://amzn.to/3lMOiJwย ย
Kindle edition: https://amzn.to/3lQel2z
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Please visit qsti.org for further information about Qigong Sensory Training

