Autism in China: From acupuncture to applied behavior analysis

It has been only in the past decade that autism has been widely recognized among Chinese service providers. As a result, there are few professionals who are trained to treat the disorder. Although efforts are currently under way to determine the prevalence of autism in China, to date there are no reliable data that indicate the magnitude of the problem. There are no formalized education programs for children with autism and only a handful of treatment programs in larger city hospitals and private schools. Treatments range from herbal medicines and acupuncture to sensory integration training and, in rare instances, applied behavior analysis (ABA). This article provides an update on what is taking place in China for autism treatment, and the challenges that lie ahead as the Chinese Ministry of Education struggles to address the needs of children identified with the disorder. (C) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.