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
Table 3
Preassessment to postassessment results for the QST massage.
Treatment group ()
Control group ()
Preassessment mean (SD)
Postassessment mean (SD)
Diff.
% norm
Preassessment mean (SD)
Postassessment mean (SD)
Diff.
% norm
Parent measures
Parenting stress
24.3 (9.51)
15.8 (8.9)
−8.5
44%
−6.49
.0000001
22.5 (9.33)
21.0 (9.6)
−1.5
9%
−1.39
.171
ABC
82.4 (25.9)
61.5 (26.6)
−20.9
32%
−5.64
.000001
83.1 (25.9)
75.7 (28.6)
−7.4
—
−2.48
.018
Abnormal sensory response
39.7 (9.1)
30.4 (9.8)
−9.3
38%
−6.68
.00000005
41.3 (10.3)
38.6 (11.6)
−2.7
11%
−3.00
.005
Tactile/oral abnormalities
29.6 (6.8)
22.4 (8.0)
−7.2
49%
−6.14
.0000003
29.6 (7.7)
27.7 (8.6)
−1.9
11%
−2.59
.013
Self-regulatory difficulties
57.6 (11.2)
45.1 (11.5)
−12.5
34%
−7.64
.000000001
57.4 (13.4)
54.0 (14.5)
−3.4
9%
−2.35
.024
Blinded assessor measures
Vineland daily living skills
34.3 (17.7)
42.7 (19.1)
8.4
5.21
.00001
37.5 (20.0)
45.9 (22.7)
8.4
5.50
.000002
Vineland socialization
36.0 (14.4)
45.7 (16.3)
9.7
5.54
.000003
40.7 (17.4)
48.6 (21.0)
7.9
5.82
.000002
CARS
39.7 (6.6)
38.2 (6.6)
−1.5
−2.61
.013
38.0 (7.8)
37.7 (7.8)
−0.3
−1.13
.266
PLS-5 auditory communication
25.9 (12.1)
30.6 (12.1)
4.7
6.07
.0000004
29.2 (13.5)
31.8 (14.3)
2.6
5.16
.00001
PLS-5 expressive communication
26.5 (11.1)
30.0 (11.1)
3.5
6.22
.0000002
28.2 (11.6)
31.3 (13.1)
3.1
5.54
.000002
Note: SD = standard deviation; Diff. = the change from pre- to postscore; % norm = the percentage reduction in parenting stress, autistic behavior, abnormal sensory responses, and self-regulatory difficulties toward typically developing children.
