• Lack of accommodation within the meningeal membranes
• Historical information gained from parents

Tensions held in the surface covering the brain attributed to fever in the early life of the child may be examined and corrected by work on the cranium and the dura mater within the spine.

The accommodation of growth in the dura mater may not by synchronised; often-challenging behaviours are evident and spontaneously ease once the restricted surface covering of the brain system has been treated. Children will often have a very positive attitude toward craniosacral treatment and will sometimes indicate where the therapist should place his or her hands during treatment. After the anterior-posterior compression restrictions have been released and the cranial base has been reasonably balanced, it seems facial restrictions need to be released. There may be screaming, laughing and/or crying, but the child does not attempt to terminate or fight the treatment at this stage. The autistic child may become more spontaneous in emotion, want hugs from Mum or Dad and be more sociable.

The next phase of treatment involves lateral decompression of the cranial base. The ears are used as levers and move the temporal bones laterally, then they are mobilised. Following this stage it is to treat as found, as with normal protocol.

It is important that parents are sensitive to and understand the changes their child may pass through. As emotion begins to emerge, it must be encouraged.