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Abstract
Background: Autism prevalence increased more than 50% between 2002 and 2006. We hypothesized that major contributors to the development and symptoms of autism include food and nutrient sensitivities. Desensitization to multiple allergens forms the basis of the Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Techniques (NAET) treatment for autism.
Subjects and Intervention: Sixty children (2.5-10 years old) with autism were randomly assigned to treatment or control groups. The treatment group (26 boys and four girls) received NAET treatments (combining acupressure and kinesiology) for 50 key allergens for 1 year. The nonblinded control group (25 boys and five girls) did not receive any NAET treatments. Each group was allowed to continue with any other therapies they had been receiving. Neuromuscular Sensitivity Testing (NST, kinesiology and muscle testing) was used to determine which substances triggered sensitivity reactions in each child, and NAET acupressure treatments were then used to eliminate the sensitivities.
Outcome Measures: Status for each participant was determined at the beginning and end of the 1-year study using the following tools: Autism Research Institute Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ARI-ATEC), Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), NST, and Allergy Symptom Rating Scale (ASRS).
Results: A total of 56 children (NAET, 26 children; control, 30 children) completed the study. After 1 year, the children receiving NAET treatments demonstrated significant improvements in performance compared with the control group, determined with the ARI-ATEC score (mean decrease: NAET, 68%; control, 0.8%; P < .0001), CARS (mean improvement: NAET, 47%; control, 0.4%; P < .0001), NST (mean improve ment: NAET, 66%; control, 0%; P < .0001), and ASRS (total decrease: NAET, 85%; control 2%; P < .0001). The NAET treatment resulted in statistically significant improvements in 30 of the 35 symptoms assessed using the ASRS. In the NAET group, 23 of the 30 children returned to regular school classes with healthy, nonautistic peers after treatment, but all of the children in the control group continued to require special education.
Conclusions: The NAET treatment is effective and well tolerated for children with allergy-related autism.
Trial registration
This trial was registered at CUnicalTrials.gov: Registration # NCT00247156.
Autism is an early childhood developmental disorder characterized by difficulties with social interactions and communication and stereotyped patterns of behavior. Autism was present in less than 1% (1/110) of American...