Early Intervention with a Parent-Delivered Massage Protocol Directed at Tactile Abnormalities Decreases Severity of Autism and Improves Child-to-Parent Interactions: A Replication Study

Abstract EN

Tactile abnormalities are severe and universal in preschool children with autism.

They respond well to treatment with a daily massage protocol directed at tactile abnormalities (QST massage for autism).

Treatment is based on a model for autism proposing that tactile impairment poses a barrier to development.

Two previous randomized controlled trials evaluating five months of massage treatment reported improvement of behavior, social/communication skills, and tactile and other sensory symptoms.

This is the first report from a two-year replication study evaluating the protocol in 103 preschool children with autism.

Parents gave daily treatment; trained staff gave weekly treatment and parent support.

Five-month outcomes replicated earlier studies and showed normalization of receptive language (18%, P = .

03 ), autistic behavior (32%, P = .

006 ), total sensory abnormalities (38%, P = .

0000005 ), tactile abnormalities (49%, P = .

0002 ), and decreased autism severity (medium to large effect size, P = .

008 ).

In addition, parents reported improved child-to-parent interactions, bonding, and decreased parenting stress (44%, P = .

00008 ).

Early childhood special education programs are tasked with addressing sensory abnormalities and engaging parents in effective home programs.

Until now, they have lacked research-based methods to do so.

This program fulfills the need.

It is recommended to parents and ECSE programs (ages 3–5) at autism diagnosis.