The Tapping Evidence Base
Other Physical Conditions

The effectiveness of a program based on Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) in reducing hyperactivity in children with autism spectrum disorder accompanied by hyperactivity

El-Banna, Z. R. A., Abu Zeid, A. A. · Arab Journal of Disability and Giftedness Sciences · 2020

Outcome study👥 8 participantsPreliminary✓ Source-checked📍 Egypt
In plain English. Eight young children with autism and hyperactivity in Egypt went through an EFT-based program, and their hyperactivity and attention scores improved from before to after the program, with the improvement still holding a month later. There was no comparison group of children who didn't get the program, and the sample was very small, so this is best read as an early, exploratory result specific to this population rather than strong evidence.

What they found

8
people took part

In this 8-child single-group study, non-parametric tests showed statistically significant improvement on the Conners hyperactivity scale from pre- to post-test (p<0.05, Z values -2.522 to -2.534), with gains maintained at one-month follow-up (no significant change from post-test to follow-up).

How the study worked

Who took partChildren ages 5-8 with autism spectrum disorder and hyperactivity, recruited from an Early Intervention Center at Alexandria University, Egypt (n=8)
What they didParticipants received tapping and were measured before and after, without a separate comparison group.
Measured withGilliam Autism Rating Scale (Arabic-adapted), Conners' Rating Scale for hyperactivity/attention deficit

💡 Where this could help

If findings like these hold up in larger trials, the promise is simple: a low-cost, self-administered tool that could reach people struggling with other physical conditions who can't easily access traditional care — at home, between appointments, or where there aren't enough clinicians to go around.

🔬 What to study next

The natural next step: a head-to-head trial against an established treatment like CBT, and a larger sample to confirm the effect.

The full record

DesignOutcome study
Participants8 people
PopulationChildren ages 5-8 with autism spectrum disorder and hyperactivity, recruited from an Early Intervention Center at Alexandria University, Egypt
Outcome measuresGilliam Autism Rating Scale (Arabic-adapted), Conners' Rating Scale for hyperactivity/attention deficit
JournalArab Journal of Disability and Giftedness Sciences
Year2020
CountryEgypt
LanguageArabic
MethodEFT / tapping
Publication typeStudy / trial
Verification✓ Confirmed against the primary source

Read the original study →

Cite this study

APA

El-Banna, Z. R. A., & Abu Zeid, A. A. (2020). The effectiveness of a program based on Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) in reducing hyperactivity in children with autism spectrum disorder accompanied by hyperactivity. Arab Journal of Disability and Giftedness Sciences. https://doi.org/10.21608/jasht.2020.122072

This record is part of the Tapping Evidence Base — an openly-sourced, fully-referenced directory of the research on EFT/tapping. Explore more studies on Other Physical Conditions

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THE TAPPING EVIDENCE BASE Other Physical Conditions 8 participants WHAT THEY FOUND In this 8-child single-group study, non-parametric tests showed statisticallysignificant improvement on the Conners… Outcome study · 8 participants El-Banna · 2020 · evidence.thetappingsolution.com