Tongue acupuncture may help the autistic

A new treatment using acupuncture to improve symptoms in children with autism was outlined at a conference yesterday.

Professor Virginia Wong from the University of Hong Kong used an innovative technique called tongue acupuncture. She says it works by stimulating specific points thought to correspond to brain functions. Brain imaging techniques were used to observe the response of the brain in areas that might be linked to autism. The results demonstrated an improvement in central features of the disease such as problems with language, social skills, cognition, hyperactivity, attention and aggression.

Professor Wong, who is attending the World Congress of Neurology, which runs in London until Friday, said: "There was a significant improvement in the intellectual function and communication ability in some of these children."