QST questions and answers

No.

QST does not replace your professional training. It changes the order in which things work best.

Many therapeutic approaches focus on skills, behaviour, cognition or emotional regulation.

QST focuses on sensory processing and physiological self-regulation first.

When that foundation stabilises, much of what therapists already do becomes:

• easier to apply

• better tolerated by the child

• more effective and faster

QST integrates well with physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and educational approaches.

It does not ask you to abandon your expertise. It helps your expertise land in a more receptive system.

If you want to learn QST as a practitioner, start here.

This concern is very common, especially among therapists who rely on home programmes.

QST differs in three important ways:

1. The time investment is small

   Daily sessions are short (15 min.) and clearly structured.

2. Progress appears early

   In most cases, parents notice meaningful changes within the first week of consistent application.

3. Progress is ongoing and visible

   Each week typically brings new shifts, which strongly motivates parents to continue.

Because parents see change quickly, QST does not rely on discipline or compliance to sustain itself. The child’s progress becomes the motivation.

If you are a parent looking for guided support, start here.

QST does not target one isolated outcome. It works on the sensory foundation, so changes often appear across multiple domains.

Commonly reported changes include:

• improved sleep quality and settling

• calmer digestion and appetite regulation

• reduced sensory distress

• improved self-regulation

• increased engagement and availability for learning

• more stable energy and mood

Not every child shows the same changes and not all changes appear at the same speed.

What is consistent is that regulation improves before skills.

Free download: Real children, real results – QST case studies (PDF)
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No.

QST is most commonly used with autistic children because sensory processing impairment is a core feature of autism.

However, QST is also used with:

• children with sensory processing difficulties

• children with developmental delays

• children with Down syndrome

• children with cerebral palsy

• adults with long-standing sensory and regulatory difficulties

QST is indicated by sensory and self-regulation impairment, not by diagnosis alone.

No.

This is a common misconception.

QST adapts to the child -not the other way around.

Sessions can be done:

• sitting

• lying down

• moving

• in positions the child can tolerate

Stillness is not a requirement.

Safety, predictability and respectful contact are.

No, there is not.

QST can be applied at any age.

What matters is not the age of the person receiving QST, but whether there is at least one person willing to deliver the massage daily.

In practice, this condition is usually met for children.

Parents are generally highly motivated to apply QST consistently when they see early and ongoing changes in their child.

In adults, the limiting factor is often not effectiveness, but practical feasibility.

Spouses or caregivers may be less able or willing to provide daily hands-on treatment over a prolonged period.

QST depends on consistent daily application.

When that condition is met, age is not a limiting factor.

Yes.

QST does not work directly on sleep or appetite.

It works on sensory processing and autonomic regulation.

When regulation improves:

• sleep becomes deeper and more stable

• appetite and digestion often become more stable

• stress responses decrease

These changes are considered secondary effects of a more stable sensory system.

Yes -in many cases, this is exactly when QST is indicated.

Touch aversion is not a preference.
It is a sign of sensory impairment, often linked to sensory pain, overload or nervous system instability.

In these cases, QST works by gradually restoring safe and predictable tactile input, rather than avoiding touch altogether.

Sessions are carefully adapted to the child’s tolerance and progressed step by step. The parent or therapist adjusts to the child -not the other way around.

QST is not forced touch.
It is structured, respectful and trauma-sensitive.

Children with profiles such as OCD or PDA, where control and avoidance are prominent, may benefit from this approach because QST does not rely on compliance or behavioural pressure.

QST follows a clear timeline:

• First weeks: early changes in regulation and sensory tolerance

• 3 months: consistent, observable progress

• 6–12 months: consolidation and developmental gains

• 1–2 years: deeper sensory repair in more complex cases

The exact timeline depends on the severity and breadth of sensory impairment.

Free download: Real children, real results – QST case studies (PDF)
No sign-up required.

Yes -and it often should be.

However, it is usually advisable to allow QST to work on its own for the first 3-6 months.

This makes it easier to:

• evaluate its impact clearly

• avoid overstimulation

• ensure the nervous system has time to stabilise

QST is best understood as a foundation.
Once the sensory foundation is stronger, other therapies tend to work faster and with less resistance.

A simple principle applies:

If a method brings clear, meaningful change within three months, it is worth continuing.

If progress is minimal despite consistent application, it is reasonable to reconsider.

QST consistently shows early signals of change when sensory and self-regulation impairment is present.

Want more clarity before you decide?

Understand the child before you try to help them.

When parents or therapists are unsure whether QST is indicated, surface behaviour is not enough.

A clearer picture of sensory processing and self-regulation helps prevent guesswork and premature decisions.

The Sensory Snapshot™ translates the Sense and Self-Regulation Checklist (SSRC) into visual scores and developmental signals, helping parents and professionals understand what may be driving regulation and behaviour.

It can support:

• deciding whether QST is appropriate

• knowing when referral is warranted

• explaining concerns clearly to other professionals

👉 Explore the Sensory Snapshot™