A recent study shows promising results for a non-invasive technique that may improve communication in children with autism, with a short treatment period and limited side effects.
A Chinese study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) revealed that continuous accelerated theta wave stimulation (a-cTBS), a form of transcranial magnetic stimulation, can improve social communication skills in children with autism spectrum disorder, with improvements lasting for a month after treatment.
This non-invasive technique also has shorter session durations compared to traditional methods, making it more suitable for children, especially younger ones.
Study Details
The study included 200 children aged 4 to 10 years with autism, approximately half of whom also had an intellectual disability. Researchers randomly divided the children into two groups:
One group received the actual a-cTBS treatment.
The other group received a placebo.
The treatment lasted five consecutive days, with 10 sessions per day, targeting the brain region associated with movement, language, and social interaction.
The results showed that children who received the actual treatment showed significant improvement in social communication skills compared to the other group, and this improvement persisted even a month after the treatment ended.
Additional improvements in language abilities were also recorded, albeit to varying degrees. Statistical analyses indicate that the effect was small to moderate, but significant.
Some side effects, such as insomnia or scalp discomfort, were observed and were more common in the group that received the actual treatment. However, these symptoms were mild to moderate and resolved spontaneously without intervention.
What are the limitations?
The researchers pointed out several limitations on generalizing the results, including:
The short follow-up period (only one month).
The possibility that the results were influenced by parental or participant expectations.
The high proportion of males among the participants.
What do these results mean?
The researchers believe that this technique could represent a practical treatment option that could be widely used, including for younger children and those with intellectual disabilities.
However, other experts urged caution, emphasizing that this type of therapy should not replace psychological and educational support, but rather could be part of a comprehensive treatment plan, should future studies prove its long-term effectiveness.
Source: Medical Express
