Research Report Abstract

On

“Aculaser” Therapy For Treatment Of

Children With Multiple Disabilities

Research Study undertaken By

“ArunaChetana” Bangalore, A school for children with special needs

In collaboration with

Holistic Health care centre Bangalore

And assisted By

Miridia Technology Inc. Boise, Idaho, USA

&

NeuroDyne Medical Corporation, Boston, USA

Objective:

To evaluate the effects of “Aculaser Therapy” (Laser Scalp Acupuncture,

Pulsating Magnetic Field Therapy, Acupressure and Color Therapy) in

children suffering from Multiple Disabilities and associated neurological

disorders like Mental Retardation, Hearing Impairment, Speech

Impairment, Cerebral Palsy, Visual Impairment, Autism and ADHD

In addition to this, to evaluate when this treatment is stopped; is there any

regression of the development or reversal of the symptoms.

Need For Alternate Therapy

• Traditional therapies are time consuming and give limited results

• Effective co-ordination of all the conventional therapies is required to bring out desired results.

• We are open to new avenues for treatment.

• We hope that any new therapy may give better relief to these children.

• Develop suitable support treatment program at institutional / school level to achieve sustained improvements

• Failure of medical model in rehabilitation process has inspired us to

look for alternate therapies

Background

It is extremely difficult to have exact estimate of persons having Multiple

Disabilities. Today more people have Multiple Disabilities than other

developmental disorders.

In general there is not any single treatment which addresses physical,

mental and cognitive aspects of children with multiple disabilities. This

research study is based on the principal of combining and using different

treatment modalities like laser acupuncture (scalp, body), acupressure,

pulsating magnetic field therapy and color therapy for the treatment of

children suffering from multiple disabilities.

Introduction

• Multiple Disability is a condition where a child suffers with more than one disability. It may be a combination of more than one of the

following

• disabilities in one child :

• Mental Retardation

• Hearing Impairment

• Speech Impairment

• Cerebral Palsy

• Visual Impairment

• Autism

• ADHD

Who is at risk?

• A child with any genetic problem / chromosomal disorder / problems

faced during pre-natal,

• peri-natal and post-natal period / and any injury during the

developmental stage

What is “Aculaser Therapy”?

• “Aculaser” Therapy” is a combination of following therapies;

• Acupuncture/Acupressure has been traditionally used for treatment of

various mental and physical disabilities, for over 5000 years in India, China etc

• Special development of Scalp Acupuncture by Dr. Jiao Shunfa, Dr.Zhu, and YSNA (Dr.Yamatomo) has increased its use in treatment of

neurological and developmental disorders.

•

• Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is the use of low power therapeutic

lasers on acupuncture points and different zones or areas on scalp.

• Pulsating Magnetic Therapy is already universally used and accepted method to treat human tissues and bone damaged conditions

• Color Therapy is based on experience that physiological functions

respond to specific colors. Enough research has been done to test the

effects of colored light on muscles.

• Acupressure is a therapy of acupuncture without needles. This is used

as a follow up therapy to be administered by parents of the child, to promote their active participation in the present research study

Testing & Assessment Tools

• Following international standards were used to make pre-treatment,

intermediate and post- treatment assessments.

• Energy Distribution Imaging:

• Acugraph-3 System supplied by Miridia Technology Inc. Boise, USA

•

• Psychological:

• Wheschaler I.Q.Test

• Based on this test, we have used standardized tests for Indian

children.

• Binet Kamat Test

• Batia Intelligence Test

• Developmental Screening Test

• Vineland Social Maturity scale

• Special Education:

• NIMH standardized grade level test for M.R.

• NIMHANS – Assessment of children with learning problems

• Speech and Communication:

• Speech and communication assessment test –

• (Chandrashekar Institute of speech and Hearing)

• Hearing:

• Audiometry Test

Parental Assessment of child performance

• For any research study, a scientific data analysis based on collection of

data in empirical format and its statistical analysis is of prime importance. However in the present research study, where

quantification of child behavior suffering from multiple disabilities may

not always be representative of its behavioral qualities.

• Hence, assessment of child behavior by his/her parents is of prime

importance. The extent of suffering parents have undergone is depicted in their assessment. It is based on both physical and

emotional factors and though subjective in nature, the assessment

reflects parent’s concern for their child’s past and future life

• We do not underestimate parental evaluation, which is based on past

experience and future aspirations about the child.

• Our research gives its due credit to Parental assessment in evaluating child’s progress and success of this research study is totally dependent

on parent’s assessment.

Statistical Data

• The research study was conducted at “ArunaChetana” a school for

children with special needs, at 14 A Cross, 11th main, Malleswaram, Bangalore-560003 for a period of 6 months from June 2008 to

December 2008 (part-I). In all 150 children were initially scanned using “Acugraph-3” system to test and diagnose the disorders

severity.

• After obtaining the parent’s consent in writing,26 children were finally selected for “Aculaser” treatment, in the age range of 6 ½ to 16

years, with varied multiple disabilities.The history of each selected child was taken and a primary clinical assessment was done which

included Head Circumference, height and Weight.

• The initial assessment for each child, was done by psychologist, special educator and parents before starting the treatment schedule

• Total no of Children Treated ----- 26 nos

• Children with C.P. ------- 12 nos ( Group-1)

• Children with Mental retardation –---- 5 nos (Group-2)

• Children with Hearing Impairment ----- 3 nos

• (Group-3)

• Children with Hearing & Visual Impairment ------- 1 no (Group-4)

• Children selected for only “Aculaser” treatment --------- 5 nos (Group-

5)

• Boys: 19 nos

• Girls: 7 nos

• Male: Female Ratio: 2.7: 1

• Age Distribution:

• Age (yrs) No of children

• 6 ½ 2

• 7 3

• 8 4

• 9 2

• 10 4

• 11 4

• 12 2

• 13 1

• 14 1

• 15 2

• 16 ½ 1

• Min Age: 6 ½ yrs

• Max Age: 16 ½ yrs

• Average Age: 10 ½ yrs.

• To have comparative study of IQ improvement in children with Multiple Disabilities, subjected to “Aculaser” therapy and children not subjected

to “Aculaser” therapy, a sample assessment for 10 representative children, was done at the same time before and after starting the

“Aculaser” treatment for the selected children

• The values of improved score indicate that the IQ improvement in

terms of absolute value is very LOW ( only 2.3% average), when compared to the values as seen for the children with “Aculaser”

therapy

• The comparative study is made only for IQ score as it can be

expressed in absolute values

• This comparative study is made to prove scientifically, effectiveness of the “Aculaser” therapy

Representative statistical data on IQ score for children

subjected to only convensional Therapies

Name Age Pre-

Treatment IQ

Post-

Treatment IQ score

Improved

Ganesh M 7 38 38 0

Kamalakshi 6 ½ 40 42 + 2

Chandana 9 38 42 + 2

K. Sonu 7 36 40 + 4

Bairesh 12 42 44 + 2

Bhavani 11 26 28 + 2

Vaishnavi 7 62 65 + 3

Shashank 7 64 66 + 2

Shalini S 11 28 32 + 4

Vinay 8 39 39 + 0

Average improvement in IQ

2.3%

Pre/Post Aculaser Therapy Treatment IQ Assessment for

C.P. children

Name Age Pre-Treatment

IQ score

Post-Treatment

IQ score

Improved score

Anoopkumar14 68 68 0

Ramya C 16 ½ 60 70 + 10

Dhanush L 15 28 39 + 11

Chitrasree 13 51 60 + 9

Dimple 7 65 73 + 8

Ashish M 11 ½ 44 53 + 9

Nishtthitha 10 ½ 41 48 + 7

Vaibhav Raju

6 ½ 63 65 + 2

Abhilash 11 ½ 25 34 + 9

Krithik Srinivas

8 56 67 + 11

Tulasi 8 24 33 + 9

Mohan C 10 ½ 62 70 + 8

Pre/Post Aculaser therapy Treatment IQ Assessment for

Mental Retardation

Name Age Pre-treatment

IQ score

Post Treatment

IQ score

Improved score

Manjunath Pai

7 ½ 22 32 + 10

Balakrishna 11 21 34 + 13

Pavankumar 9 38 49 + 11

Rakesh

Gowda

11 58 62 + 4

Sendilkumar15 52 60 + 8

Pre/Post Aculaser Therapy Treatment IQ Assessment for

Hearing Impairment

Name Age Pre-treatment

IQ score

Post-treatment

IQ score

Improved score

Naveen

kumar

12 ½ 70 78 + 8

Deepu 10 70 79 + 9

Govind Raju

12 ½ 68 74 + 6

Pre/Post Aculaser therapy Treatment IQ Assessment for

Hearing & Visual Impairment

Name Age Pre-Treatment

IQ score

Post-Treatment

IQ score

Improved score

Nikhil Rao 10 76 82 + 6

Pre/Post Aculaser Therapy Treatment IQ Assessment for

New children (only aculaser therapy)

Name Age Pre-

Treatment score

Post-

Treatment score

Improved

score

Prashanth 6 ½ 43 52 + 9

Siddanth

Rao

8 40 50 + 10

Gracy 8 ½ 56 62 + 6

Preeti 9 43 52 + 9

Manjunath

C

7 ½ 51 63 + 12

Assessment of Improvement for children with multiple

disabilities

Group Number of

children

Effective treatment

sessions

Psychlogical average

improved score

Special educational

Improved

score

Parental

Group-1

(C.P.)

12 64 7.5 6 10%

Group-2

(M.R).

5 64 8.5 5 10%

Group-3 (H.I)

3 64 8 7.5 13%

Group-4 (H.I. +V.I.)

1 64 7.5 6 15%

Group-5 (only

aculaser)

5 64 8 N.A. 10%

Group-6

With only

convensional therapies

10

64 2.3 2 --

Side Effects:

• Generally we did not experience any adverse side effects of “Aculaser”

therapy except in case of two children, the frequency of fits did not

reduce.

Conclusions:

• Studies conducted all over the world indicate that unconventional

treatments such as Acupuncture, Acupressure, Laser Acupuncture and Scalp Acupuncture show a very good success rate for the treatment of

children with multiple disabilities including C.P.

• In our research study, “Aculaser” therapy was safe, effective, painless and aseptic; it gave rapid results in most of the children. Most children

complied with the treatment. Changes were observable almost in the first 2-3 months of the therapy. To maintain continued progress it is

necessary to continue the treatment without break for a period of at least 9 to 12 months.

• The best results were in children of lesser age which signifies that

“Aculaser” therapy when instituted earlier gives better results.

• Every child’s general health has improved

• Group-5 children, who were given only “Aculaser” therapy have shown

appreciable improvement as compared to other children who were not given this therapy.

• The other four groups were given other standard treatments along

with “Aculaser” therapy. These groups have also shown improvements as compared to other children without “Aculaser” therapy.

• It is observed that cognitive aspects such as comprehension, co-

ordination, expression have improved more when compared to physiological aspects.

• Younger and severely affected children have shown more

improvements as compared to children in higher age group and lesser intensity of problems.

• Comparative study of the statistical data proves that with introduction

of “Aculaser” therapy, there is considerable improvement in the overall performance of each child and that too in short period of only 64

effective treatment sessions.

• Therefore, with introduction of “Aculaser” therapy there can be reduction in effective treatment time for other treatment therapies.

• This study concludes that “Aculaser” therapy is effective for the

treatment of children suffering from multiple disabilities of various types and associated neurological disorders like epilepsy, Hearing

Impairment, Speech Impairment, Cerebral Palsy.

• ACULASER Therapy not only addresses and improves the physical

aspect in children with Multiple Disabilities but also the mental and cognitive aspects.

• ACULASER therapy if applied at proper time can improve the quality of life of then children sufering from Multiple Disabilities.

Decisions By ArunaChetana

• It is proposed to continue “Aculaser” therapy for selected children for a further period of 12 months.

• It is also planned to make “aculaser” therapy available for children of

“ArunaChetana” school during the upcoming annual school holidays.

• It is also planned to introduce “Aculaser” therapy for all the remaining

150 children from ArunaChetana,during the next academic year

• In order to achieve better progress for C.P. children,children with attention deficiancy etc., it is proposed to introduce “Neuro-feedback”

technology for testing and treatment of muscle tone disorders.

• “ArunaChetana” also intends to start regular clinic service for other children suffering from multiple disabilities, at Bangalore

Recommendation:

• It is strongly recommended that further larger research study should be conducted to evaluate the effects of ACULASER therapy and this

therapy should be adopted as a treatment option for children with

Multiple Disabilities along with other modalities.