Acupuncture combined with ear point taping and pressing for sleep disturbance in 30 children with mental retardation

ObjectiveTo observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with ear point taping and pressing on sleep disturbance of the children with mental retardation.MethodsThirty children of mental retardation with sleep disturbance were treated with acupuncture combined with ear point taping and pressing therapy, Sìshénzhēn , Nâosnzhēn , Zhìsānzhēn (, Nièsānzhēn , Shuzhìzhēn were selected as main acupoints, and adjunct points were used according to symptoms and syndrome differentiation. For ear point taping and pressing, ěrshénmén ( MA-TF1), Pízhìxià ( MA-ATI), Jiāogân ( MA-AH7), Xīn ( heart), Shèn ( kidney). Pí ( spleen) were selected. The treatment was given two therapeutic courses, thrice each week, 36 sessions constituted one course. Child Sleep Habit Questionnaire (CSHQ) scale was used for assessment of sleep state before and after the treatment.ResultsAfter the treatment, among the 30 cases, 11 cases were markedly effective, 16 cases were effective and 3 cases were failed, the total effective rate was 90.0%; after the treatment, the children had significant improvement in the total time of sleep, the time of going to bed for sleep, sleep habit, sleep behavior, awaking state at night, getting-up state in the morning, sleep state in the daytime and the total score (P<0.01, P<0.001).ConclusionAcupuncture combined with ear point taping and pressing therapy has a positive therapeutic effect on sleep disturbance and increases sleep quality in varying degrees in children with mental retardation.