Qigong Sensory Treatment (QST) -also referred to as Qigong Sensory Therapy or Qigong Sensory Massage- is a research-informed, touch-based sensory intervention designed to repair sensory processing impairments in autistic and highly sensitive children.
QST does not aim to change behaviour, teach coping strategies or train emotional regulation.
It works directly on the sensory nervous system, where many autistic difficulties originate.
In QST, regulation emerges as a consequence of sensory repair, not as a training goal.
QST was developed by Dr. Louisa Silva and is taught internationally through trained practitioners and certified master trainers.
QST is a trauma-informed and trauma-sensitive intervention.
Many autistic children live with chronic sensory overload, sensory pain or prolonged physiological stress. These states can lead to trauma responses in the body, even in the absence of psychological trauma narratives.
QST does not rely on verbal processing, insight or exposure.
Touch is applied gradually, predictably and with strict attention to safety, allowing the nervous system to regain stability without re-triggering stress responses.
The aim is not emotional catharsis, but the restoration of sensory safety.
Most autism interventions focus on behaviour, skills or emotional regulation.
QST starts earlier in the chain.
It addresses how sensory input is received, transmitted and processed in the body.
When sensory processing is impaired, the nervous system remains in a state of overload or shutdown. This is often misinterpreted as behavioural disregulation.
QST restores meaningful sensory input, allowing the nervous system to stabilise naturally.
A touch-based sensory intervention
Trauma-informed and trauma-sensitive
Applied in a structured, clinical way
Designed for autistic and highly sensitive children
Used by trained professionals and by parents under professional guidance
Focused on sensory repair, not behaviour management
A massage for relaxation
A behavioural therapy
A parenting technique
A coping-skills programme
A method that requires verbal participation or insight
QST can be used with non-verbal children and children with moderate to high support needs.
This short video shows what a QST session can look like in practice, using structured, trauma-sensitive touch.
Sensory processing depends on the integrity of sensory nerve pathways in the skin and deeper tissues.
Research shows that in autism, sensory nerve development and function can be altered, leading to:
Sensory pain
Distorted sensory signals
Chronic overload
Defensive or avoidant responses to touch, sound or movement
When sensory input is unreliable or painful, higher-level functions are affected. Social interaction, eye contact, communication and attention all depend on a stable sensory foundation. What are often described as “social” or “behavioural” traits in autism frequently reflect the nervous system’s attempt to cope with overwhelming or distorted sensory input.
QST uses specific, intentional touch sequences to restore clear and organised sensory input.
This input helps the nervous system:
Differentiate sensory signals
Reduce sensory noise
Re-establish internal safety
Exit chronic stress states
Behaviour changes because the body changes first.
Behaviour is an outcome, not a cause.
When a child lives in constant sensory overload or sensory pain:
Compliance is impossible
Regulation cannot be trained
Learning remains fragile
QST does not ask the child to adapt to an impaired system.
It works to repair the system itself.
Qigong Sensory Treatment was developed by Dr. Louisa Silva, whose clinical and research work focused on the role of touch and sensory processing in autism.
QST is taught through the Make Children Better® School and by certified trainers across Europe, Africa and Asia.
Sabine Baeyens is a QST master trainer and research-informed practitioner with over two decades of clinical experience in sensory-based autism care.
Sabine Baeyens, QST master trainer(left) with Dr. Louisa Silva, developer of QST (right).
Yes.
QST has been evaluated in multiple intervention studies, including randomised controlled trials (RCTs), demonstrating significant improvements in sensory processing and functional outcomes in autistic children.
Its clinical model is informed by research on:
Sensory processing
Touch and sensory nerve fibres
Nervous system development
Autism-related sensory impairments
Overall treatment outcomes reported in a 24-month cohort of children aged 6–11.
👉 A detailed overview of the research is available on the Scientific foundation of QST page.
QST is often used when children experience:
Persistent sensory overload
Frequent meltdowns without clear triggers
Refusal of touch
Chronic physiological stress responses
Developmental stagnation linked to sensory instability
QST is typically considered when structured assessment shows deviations of more than two points on tactile, sensory processing and/or self-regulation scales.
These may include heightened or reduced tactile sensitivity, difficulty processing everyday sensory input and limited capacity to maintain physiological stability under normal environmental demands.
👉 A full overview is available on the Clinical indications page.
📘 Free guide: Touch-Medicine: The story of a Touch-Based Treatment for Autism
🧩 Free practical PDF: 7 touch-based ways to calm daily autism crises
❓ Common questions: Frequently asked questions about QST