Research Review: Acupuncture improves language and social interaction in ASD

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Research Review: Acupuncture Improves Language and Social Interaction in

Children with ASD by Luciana C Leo LAc DOM

The Centre for Neurocognitive Function Enhancement at The Chinese University of

Hong Kong did a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effect of an

acupuncture technique, called " Seven-Star Needle Stimulation " , for the treatment

of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Thirty-two children were

assigned randomly into the treatment group and the control group. Children in

the treatment group underwent 30 sessions of stimulation over 6 weeks (Sessions

were 5 to 10 minutes long, 5 times per week), while children in the control

group were on a waiting list and did not received any treatment during this

period. Children in the treatment group were stimulated at the front and back

sides of their body and the head by using a Seven-Star Needle.

The tool for the Seven-Star Needle Stimulation looks like a thin long hammer

with a handle on one side and a head that consist of 7 blunt needles forming the

shape of a seven-point star on the other side. Due to the way this tool is

designed, it can provide maximum stimulation without penetrating the skin making

the treatment very suitable for children. Seven-Star Needle Stimulation has been

used for over 1000 years in China. Two underlying mechanisms might explain the

therapeutic effect of this technique. The first is based on the Traditional

Chinese Medicine concept that there are 20 channels distributed over the human

body, and the channel on the front and the one on the back govern the harmony of

the body, including the brain. The other hypothesis suggested that the treatment

effect of Seven-Star Needle Stimulation is related to the stimulation of the

sympathetic nervous system distributed along the spine (Bai, 1989).

Children in both groups were assessed before and after the treatment group

underwent treatment, first at baseline and then 6 weeks later. They were

assessed by parent's rating on 3 major areas that characterized children with

ASD: language, social interaction and behavioral problems; as well as motor

functioning. In addition, their change in quantitative electroencephalography

(qEEG) profile was assessd to serve as a relatively objective outcome measure.

Results showed that the treatment group demonstrated significant improvement in

language and social interaction, but not in stereotyped behavior or motor

function, compared to the control group. qEEG spectral amplitudes in the

treatment, but not the control group, were also reduced significantly. The

results suggested that Seven-Star Needle Stimulation might be an effective

intervention to improve language and social functioning of children with ASD.

" Seven-Star Needle Stimulation Improves Language and Social Interaction of

Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders "

Agnes Chan, Mei-Chun Cheung, Sophia Sze aadn Winnie Leung