Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Direct Cranial Electrical Stimulation (TDCS) Combined with Occupational Therapy on Flexibility in Children with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Age Group of 7-12 Years
SOREN Student Sports & Health Open Researches e-Journal: New-Approaches,
Vol. 2 No. 1 (1400),
11 Khordad 2021
,
Page 25-30
https://doi.org/10.22037/soren.v2i1.34963
Abstract
Background and aim: The ability to rehabilitate people with autism is another aspect of occupational therapy that plays an important role in improving the quality of life of these people. Direct cranial electrical stimulation (TDCS) is used as a complementary therapy in patients. This study was performed to investigate the increased effect of TDCS of the skull combined with routine occupational therapy on the flexibility of children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (7-12 years).
Methods: The type of research was a double-blind randomized pre/post-test clinical trial. The sample consisted of 20 boys with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups of 10 intervention and control. The intervention group received 10 sessions of occupational therapy with 10 sessions of TDCS for three weeks and the control group received 10 sessions of occupational therapy and 10 sessions of TDCS as sham. In this study, flexibility variables were measured and compared with the Wisconsin Manual Cards Test. Paired t-test, analysis of covariance (ANOVA) was used to compare the studied variables.
Results: The results showed that the mean and standard deviation of the studied variables in the intervention group were not significantly different from the control group. However, the above intervention was significantly effective in improving flexibility (P<0.001) in the intervention group.
Conclusion: Direct electrical stimulation of the skull with routine occupational therapy on the executive functions of children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder is not significantly different from conventional occupational therapy.
- Flexibility
- Direct Cranial Electrical Stimulation
- Autism
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References
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