A new brain stimulation therapy could improve communication in autistic children in just days
A new brain stimulation technique could improve social communication in autistic children in just days. The results are promising, but experts caution that the research is still in its infancy.
The technique can improve communication in children with autism PHOTO Shutterstock
Researchers in China have developed a brain stimulation technique that shows promising preliminary results in improving social communication skills in children with autism. This could be important, considering that for many people on the autism spectrum, communication and language difficulties are some of the biggest challenges in everyday life, writes The New York Post.
In the study, researchers included 167 boys and 33 girls, ages 4 to 10, diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, a condition that affects how a person interacts socially, communicates, learns and behaves. Half of the participants also had an intellectual disability—an association generally found in about a third of people with autism.
The 200 participants were randomly divided into two groups. Half received the non-invasive brain stimulation technique called “accelerated continuous theta burst stimulation” (a-cTBS) and the other half underwent a sham procedure (“sham”), used as a term of comparison.
Results in five days
The treatment protocol was carried out for five consecutive days, with each child participating in 10 sessions per day. In each session, the researchers placed a magnetic coil on the scalp of the children in the a-cTBS group, applying light pulses to the left primary motor cortex, an area of the brain associated with movement, language and social cognition.
The aim of the treatment is to regulate brain activity, by reducing excessive activity in certain areas and stimulating less active ones, with the aim of improving brain flexibility and strengthening the networks involved in communication.
After the intervention was completed, the researchers used a scale called the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS-2) to assess changes in participants' social communication, comparing results from baseline, immediately after treatment, and a one-month follow-up.
The results showed that the α-cTBS-treated group had significantly greater improvements in social communication than the control group, both immediately after treatment and after one month. Children in the a-cTBS group also showed greater progress in language development.
The reaction of the organization Autism Voice after Simion's statement. Letter from a 12-year-old boy
Side effects were reported more frequently in the treated group, the most common being restlessness and scalp discomfort. All adverse reactions were mild to moderate and resolved spontaneously.
The study has some limitations, however, including the possibility that participants' expectations may have influenced the results and a relatively short follow-up period of only one month.
Even so, the researchers believe that a-cTBS could represent “a feasible, effective and scalable therapeutic option for children with autism spectrum disorder, including those with intellectual disabilities”.
Opinions are divided among specialists
However, not all specialists are ready to fully accept these conclusions.
“It's a very good and promising start”said Roi Cohen Kadosh, professor of cognitive neuroscience at the University of Surrey, who was not involved in the study. “However, the results should be interpreted with caution.”
It pointed out that the α-cTBS group had higher baseline mean scores on the SRS-2 than the control group, indicating more severe difficulties at the start of the study.
“This is important because baseline differences between groups can sometimes contribute to the magnitude of improvements seen after treatment”he explained. “A longer follow-up period is needed to determine whether the benefits are maintained over time.”
Other experts have expressed concern about the study population.
“I am concerned about using brain stimulation in such young children because the effects on the developing brain are not yet fully known”said David McGonigle, a lecturer in the Schools of Psychology and Biosciences at Cardiff University, who was not involved in the research.
Communication difficulties
Among children with autism, studies show that about 3 in 4 show some level of language impairment by kindergarten age. Many families turn to specialists, such as speech therapists, to improve communication, but progress varies considerably from child to child.
The impact can be significant. In childhood, communication difficulties are often associated with frustration, social isolation, anxiety and behavioral problems, affecting school performance and self-esteem.
Long-term studies also suggest that the level of language development in the early years is one of the most important predictors of the later development of people with autism, including academic success and the ability to lead an independent life in adulthood.
