A new brain stimulation treatment may help improve social skills in children with autism, researchers have claimed. Scientists in China found the non-invasive therapy, which delivers magnetic pulses to the head, led to short-term improvements in social communication and language after just five days of treatment.
Experts said the results were 'promising' – but stressed the findings were 'preliminary' and should only be seen as 'a potential addition to existing support', such as speech and language therapy and other educational methods.
Autism impacts how people communicate, interact and experience the world. The condition affects one in 31 children in the US, and one in 45 adults. Many autistic children struggle with social communication, such as reading facial expressions, taking turns in conversation, understanding social cues or relating to other children. Researchers behind the new trial said these difficulties are a 'core symptom' of autism and there are limited treatment options.
During the therapy, known as accelerated continuous theta burst stimulation, or a-cTBS, doctors targeted the left primary motor cortex – an area of the brain linked not only to movement, but also language and aspects of social thinking.
The study, published in The BMJ, involved 200 autistic children aged between four and 10 who were treated at three hospitals in China. Half also had intellectual disabilities. The children were split into two groups. One received the real treatment, while the other had a sham version designed to look identical. Those in the treatment group had 10 short sessions a day for five days. Of the 200 children who started the trial, 193 completed it.
Researchers then measured changes in behaviour using a recognised questionnaire that assesses social responsiveness. They also tested language skills. Compared with the sham group, children who received the real treatment showed greater improvements in social communication both immediately afterwards and one month later. They also showed stronger gains in language ability.
Side-effects were more common in the treatment group, affecting just over half, compared with around three in 10 in the sham group. The most common problems were restlessness and discomfort on the scalp where the device was used. Researchers said all side-effects were mild to moderate and went away on their own.
The team said the findings suggest the treatment could become a 'feasible, effective and scalable therapeutic option' for children with autism. But independent experts were circumspect. Professor Dorothy Bishop, an expert in developmental neuropsychology at the University of Oxford, said the schedule sounded demanding for young children, especially autistic children who can find disrupted routines difficult. She also questioned whether lasting changes in social behaviour could realistically happen so quickly.
Dr David McGonigle, of Cardiff University, said the improvements were statistically significant but 'modest' and only measured over one month. He added that more research was needed before the treatment could be used clinically. In a linked editorial, academics from Hong Kong said the findings offered reason for 'cautious optimism'. They said brain stimulation should not replace psychosocial or educational support, but could one day become part of a wider package of care for autistic children with significant social communication difficulties.
