New Research on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) | Outcomes from the Brain Balance Program
Two Studies. One Clear Insight: When You Strengthen the Foundation, Development Follows.
We’re proud to share two new research studies examining the impact of the Brain Balance program on children and teens with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Together, these studies reinforce a critical shift in how we understand and support development in children with ASD: what’s happening beneath the surface matters.
Why Foundational Development Matters in Autism
Motor development deficits are not incidental to autism. They appear early, they are pervasive, and they matter.
Research shows that developmental coordination disorder co-occurs with ASD at strikingly high rates—yet it is rarely documented in clinical settings. This is not a data gap. It reflects a long-standing model that has treated motor development as secondary.
But at Brain Balance, we understand something important: Motor development and executive function are deeply interconnected.
The very skills most impacted in ASD are built on a foundational layer of sensory and motor development.
- attention
- working memory
- emotional regulation
- cognitive flexibility
- social communication
When that foundation is underdeveloped, higher-level skills don’t fully emerge.
These studies explore what happens when you target that foundation directly.
Get started with a plan for your child today!
Controlled Study on Sensory Motor Development
Developmental Outcomes of the Brain Balance® Program in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
This controlled study compared children with ASD who completed the Brain Balance program to a non-intervention control group.
86total participants ages 4–17 with ASD |
7.6months average program duration Brain Balance group |
5 of 6sensory motor domains showed significant improvement |
Key Findings
- 5 of 6 sensory motor domains improved in the Brain Balance group vs. no change in controls (p < .001)
- Significant gains in:
- coordination
- balance
- gaze stability
- rhythm & timing
- fine motor skills
- Primitive reflexes showed meaningful maturation, including Moro, ATNR, and Landau reflexes
What This Research Means for Families
This study established something essential: the improvements were not due to time or natural development—they were attributable to the program.
It provides the causal foundation that strengthening sensory motor systems can drive meaningful developmental change.
Large Observational Study of 875 Children with ASD
Sensory Motor Intervention and Multi-Domain Developmental Outcomes in Autism Spectrum Disorder
This large-scale study examined outcomes across 875 children (ages 4–17) who completed the Brain Balance program.
875children & adolescents ages 4–17 with ASD |
115U.S. Brain Balance centers 2014–2024 |
73.6%parents reported improvement in social communication |
Key Findings
- Large effect sizes across all sensory motor domains (d = 1.00–1.51)
- All 8 primitive reflexes improved, with 6 showing large effects
- 73.6% of parents reported improvement in social communication
- 74.6% reported overall developmental improvement across:
- behavior
- emotional regulation
- academic engagement
- motor coordination
- social skills
- Children with the greatest challenges saw the biggest gains
What Makes This Especially Meaningful
Social communication, which is considered a core defining feature of ASD, was not directly targeted by the program. Yet it showed one of the highest rates of improvement.
What These Studies Show Together
When viewed together, these studies tell a powerful and consistent story:
What Brain Balance directly targets:
- primitive reflexes
- vestibular function
- proprioception
- rhythm & timing
- fine motor skills
- gaze stability
- auditory processing
- coordination
In addition to improvements in the areas above, families report improvements in:
- social communication
- emotional regulation
- hyperactivity and behavior
- academic engagement
- reading and writing
- overall confidence and functioning
This is the developmental cascade in action:
Strengthen the foundation → and higher-level skills begin to emerge.
Parents aren’t enrolling hoping to improve motor skills. They’re looking for changes in communication, behavior, and daily life. These studies suggest those changes may begin at a deeper level.
What This Means for Children with ASD
Children with ASD often experience challenges across multiple areas, including:
- difficulty with social communication
- emotional regulation and anxiety
- attention and focus
- impulsivity or hyperactivity
- motor coordination and balance
- academic engagement
These challenges are often addressed individually.
But development doesn’t happen in isolation.
A Different Approach
The Brain Balance program is designed to work from the bottom up—
targeting the foundational systems that support all higher-level functions.
— Dr. Rebecca Jackson, Chief Programs Officer, Brain Balance
What Is the Brain Balance Program?
Brain Balance is a personalized, non-medical program designed to improve brain function by strengthening foundational developmental systems.
Each program is based on a comprehensive assessment and includes:
- sensory stimulation
- motor and coordination training
- primitive reflex integration
- cognitive and processing activities
- at-home exercises and nutrition support
Children typically attend sessions 3 times per week, with activities that progressively build as skills improve.
Rather than focusing on symptoms alone, the program works to improve how the brain functions as a whole.
Get Started with a Comprehensive Assessment
Book Your Child’s Assessment
Brain Balance’s evaluation unveils how everything connects.
We use FDA-approved eye-tracking technology (RightEye), validated cognitive assessments, and evaluate areas many approaches may overlook—like retained primitive reflexes.
The assessment includes:
- ✓ Visual motor analysis with live playback
- ✓ Cognitive metrics across 6 key domains
- ✓ Developmental reflex evaluation
- ✓ Fine motor precision testing
- ✓ Balance, coordination, and sensory processing
No single test tells the whole story. That’s why we look at all of them together.
Schedule your child’s assessment today. Fill out the form above.
Explore the Full Research
- Read the white paper:
Developmental Outcomes of the Brain Balance® Program in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Children and Adolescents: A Control Group Study Examining Sensory Motor Development - Read the white paper:
Sensory Motor Intervention and Multi-Domain Developmental Outcomes in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Severity-Stratified Evidence from a Large Observational Cohort