在台灣，自閉症兒童近15年成長了近三倍，男女比例為4:1，多數在二歲半以前就可以被發現，受到腦部神經障礙的影響，個案聽到、看到、感覺到的人事物並不相同，嚴重度也因人而異，但總合來說，仍可從下面幾個面向看出問題:
社交障礙-->無法與他人或同儕互動(包括家人)
語言障礙-->語意不清或不確實，口語表達極少
重複行為-->重複拍打、搖晃等動作
狹窄的興趣-->專注在自己有興趣的事物上
照顧自閉症孩童需要耗費極大心力，對於主要照顧者更是耐心的一大考驗，他們少與人互動，連眼神接觸都沒有，想要的東西會用手比，但是無法精確說出他要什麼，父母只能用最大的愛去包容，並且試著走入孩童內心，才能一窺屬於他們的美好世界，有的小孩擅長用書寫及色彩來表示、有的則是特定物品，如用積木、撲克牌排出他心中的壯闊，每每完成的作品總讓人驚嘆!
(推薦經典電影:雨人、阿蒙正傳、艾蜜莉的異想世界)
在國外，許多研究報告表明，靈氣(Reiki)可幫助自閉孩童緩解他們焦慮、多動不安感，有助於鎮靜他們的情緒，恢復正常睡眠周期，在施行靈氣初期，建議從5-10鐘的短療程開始做起，且多由父母在旁，施行效果會最好。
而針對主要照顧者，靈氣更可以達到舒緩壓力的功效，及消除疲憊身心的不適，增加正向思想能量，讓自己更有勇氣及耐心的去包容、陪伴這樣的特殊兒童，達成雙贏的局面。
特殊兒的照顧從來就不是一件容易的事，感謝IARP從落實的面向分享靈氣療法對於自閉患者的好處，在這裡與你分享～祝福
How Can Reiki Help with ASD?
靈氣如何幫助自閉症患者 取自IARP
Studies and anecdotal reports indicate that Reiki may provide a number of different benefits to people who participate in sessions on a regular basis.
研究和報告表明，靈氣可能會為定期參加療程的人提供許多不同的好處。
Some of the benefits that may be helpful for people with ASD may include:
A chance to connect with another person in a different way.
對於ASD患者可能有所幫助的一些好處可能包括：
有機會以另一種方式與他人交流。
One of the hallmarks of ASD is difficulty with social interaction. Children and adults with ASD may find it difficult to make a connection with the people around them, whether they are family members or classmates. During Reiki sessions, an individual with ASD will have the chance to connect with his or her practitioner in a unique way.
ASD的特徵之一是社交互動的困難。有ASD的兒童和成年人可能會發現很難與他們周圍的人建立聯繫，無論他們是家庭成員還是同學。在靈氣療程期間，ASD的個人將有機會以獨特的方式與他或她的醫生聯繫。
Reduced stress and anxiety. 減輕壓力和焦慮。
People with ASD are often fidgety and hyperactive. Studies have shown that exposure to Reiki may reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, which may in turn have a calming effect on individuals with ASD.
ASD患者常常煩躁不安，多動。研究表明，接觸靈氣可以減輕壓力和焦慮的感覺，這反過來可能對ASD患者產生鎮靜作用。
Healthier sleep patterns. 更健康的睡眠模式。
ASD can disturb sleep patterns significantly, which leads to exacerbated symptoms and more stress. Reiki may improve these sleep patterns, allowing the client to get a more restful, restorative sleep.
ASD可以顯著地干擾到睡眠，導致症狀加重和壓力增加。靈氣可以改善這些睡眠模式，讓客戶得到更安寧的恢復性睡眠。
More control over the disorder. 更多的控制疾病。
The parents of children with ASD, as well as the children themselves, often feel that they are at the mercy of a disorder they cannot control. Reiki sessions allow both children and their caregivers to be proactive about dealing with symptoms and improving quality of life.
ASD兒童的父母以及孩子本身常常感到他們處於無法控制的擺佈之中。靈氣療程讓兒童和他們的照顧者都能積極主動地處理症狀並改善生活品質。
Challenges挑戰
Although some studies and reports indicate that Reiki may be helpful for people with ASD, performing Reiki on a client with this condition can be challenging for the practitioner. Especially in the case of young children, ASD makes it difficult to remain still and calm for extended periods of time. Because Reiki sessions require the client to be still, this can present a problem. Some parents of children with ASD have found that Reiki sessions are more successful when the child is drowsy or asleep. Other parents report that beginning with a shorter Reiki session and gradually working up to a longer one is effective for children with ASD. Make sure that your practitioner is aware of the diagnosis and the potential challenges before the first session so that he or she can prepare properly. A short initial 15 to 30 minute session may be appropriate.
儘管一些研究和報告表明，靈氣可能對ASD患者有幫助，但對這種情況的患者進行靈氣治療對於醫師來說可能是一個挑戰。特別是在幼童的情況下，ASD很難長時間保持靜止和平靜。由於靈氣會話要求客戶靜止，這可能會造成問題。 ASD兒童的一些家長發現，當孩子昏昏欲睡或睡著時，靈氣療法會更加成功。其他家長報告說，從一個較短的靈氣會議開始，並逐漸延長到一個對ASD兒童有效的時間。確保你的醫生在第一次會議之前了解診斷和潛在的挑戰，以便他或她能夠做好準備。初始15至30分鐘的短暫會議可能是適當的。
Reiki for Caregivers照顧者的靈氣
The effects of Autism Spectrum Disorders aren’t restricted to the person with the diagnosis. Parents and other caregivers of children with ASD also deal with significant worry, fatigue and emotional turmoil as they attempt to care for the affected individual. In many cases, these caregivers even experience physical problems as a result of the ongoing stress. Reiki may help caregivers to deal with some of these issues so that they can provide better care for their child. Specifically, caregivers who participate in Reiki sessions may benefit from lower stress levels, less anxiety and better quality of sleep. Participating in Reiki sessions may also help the caregiver to improve his or her understanding of the purpose of these sessions, the procedure used and the nature of the results.
自閉症譜系障礙的影響不限於診斷患者。 ASD兒童的家長和其他照顧者也會在他們試圖照顧受影響的個人時有顯著的擔憂，疲勞和情緒動盪。在很多情況下，這些照顧者甚至因持續的壓力而經歷身體問題。靈氣可以幫助照顧者處理這些問題，以便他們能夠為他們的孩子提供更好的照顧。具體來說，參加靈氣療法的護理人員可能受益於較低的壓力水平，較少的焦慮和較好的睡眠質量。參加靈氣療法也可能有助於護理人員提高他或她對這些療法的目的理解，使用的程序和結果的性質。
Reiki is not a substitute for medical treatment. However, some of its effects may be beneficial to children and adults with ASD. Because Reiki produces no side effects and poses no risk of complications, it can be used in conjunction with medication and other therapies. Reiki’s role is as an adjunct therapy to support traditional care and is used with many symptomatic illnesses and disorders as a complementary therapy.
靈氣不是醫療的替代品。然而，它的一些作用可能有利於ASD的兒童和成人。因為靈氣不產生副作用並且不會產生併發症，所以它可以與藥物和其他療法聯合使用。靈氣的作用是作為輔助治療來支持傳統護理，並將許多有症狀的疾病和障礙作為輔助療法使用。
(20180404 post on Blog)
