Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with ear point taping and pressing on sleep disturbance of the children with mental retardation. Method Thirty children of mental retardation with sleep disturbance were treated with acupuncture combined with ear point taping and pressing therapy, Sìshénzhēn （四神针）, Nǎosānzhēn （脑三针）, Zhìsānzhēn （智三针）, Nièsānzhēn （颞三针）, Shǒuzhìzhēn （手智针） were selected as main acupoints, and adjunct points were used according to symptoms and syndrome differentiation. For ear point taping and pressing, ěrshénmén （耳神门 MA-TF1）, Pízhìxià （皮质下 MA–AT1）, Jiāogǎn （交感 MA-AH7）, Xīn （心, heart）, Shèn （肾 kidney）, Pí （脾 spleen） were selected. The treatment was given two therapeutic courses, thrice each week, 36 sessions constituted one course. Child Sleep Habit Questionnaire （CSHQ） scale was used for assessment of sleep state before and after the treatment. Results After the treatment, among the 30 cases, 11 cases were markedly effective, 16 cases were effective and 3 cases were failed, the total effective rate was 90.0%; after the treatment, the children had significant improvement in the total time of sleep, the time of going to bed for sleep, sleep habit, sleep behavior, awaking state at night, getting-up state in the morning, sleep state in the daytime and the total score （P0.01, P0.001）. Conclusion Acupuncture combined with ear point taping and pressing therapy has a positive therapeutic effect on sleep disturbance and increases sleep quality in varying degrees in children with mental retardation.
