1The Department of Chinese Medicine, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
2The Department of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
【Summary】
This case report describes the treatment of a seven-year-old boy with autism accompanied by delayed language development. The patient was found to have speech delay since he was three years old, and was diagnosed with autism. After evaluation by the Denver Developmental Screening Tests (DDST), the patient had slow development in fine movements, adaptability and language. Since the diagnosis, he has continued to receive functional treatment and speech therapy in the rehabilitation department until now. He began to have symptoms of light sleep and easy to wake up when he was four years old, and began to have poor appetite and picky eating six months ago. The characteristic of this case is that after giving Chinese medicine and head acupuncture once a week for one and a half months, the patient’s symptoms of light sleep and easy to wake up improved by 80%, poor appetite and picky eating improved by 60%. After two months of continuous treatment, five more projects can be achieved in the language of Denver Developmental Screening Tests (DDST). We give Traditional Chinese Medicine including Dao Chi San or Xiangsha Liujunzi Decoction, Zhuye Shigao Decoction as the main prescription to the patient, clearing away heat and nourishing yin, replenishing qi and stomach, and adding Fushen and Yejiaoteng to nourish the heart and soothe the nerves. We also choose acupuncture points: Baihui, Fourth Shencong, Shangxing, Shenting, bearing light on both sides for the patient, and keep the needles for 20 minutes.
【Keywords】Autism; Language Development Delay; Chinese Medicine