Feasibility of transcranial direct current stimulation use in children aged 5 to 12 years.
Transcranial direct current stimulation is a noninvasive brain stimulation technique that has been studied for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders in adults, with minimal side effects. The objective of this study is to report the feasibility, tolerability, and the short-term adverse effects of transcranial direct current stimulation in children from 5 to 12 years of age. It is a naturalistic study of 14 children who underwent 10 sessions of transcranial direct current stimulation as an alternative, off-label, and open-label treatment for various languages disorders. Frequency, intensity, adverse effects, and perception of improvement reported by parents were collected. The main side effects detected were tingling (28.6%) and itching (28.6%), acute mood changes (42.9%), and irritability (35.7%). Transcranial direct current stimulation is a feasible and tolerable technique in children, although studies regarding plastic and cognitive changes in children are needed to confirm its safety. In conclusion, this is a naturalistic report in which we considered transcranial direct current stimulation as feasible in children.
Department of Neurosciences, Medical School of Bahia, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
Agnes Carvalho
AC
Andrade
Department of Neurosciences, Medical School of Bahia, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
Guilherme Moreira
GM
Magnavita
Department of Neurosciences, Medical School of Bahia, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
Juleilda Valéria Brasil Nunes
JV
Allegro
Medical School of Bahia, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
Carlos Eduardo Borges Passos
CE
Neto
Department of Neurosciences, Medical School of Bahia, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil rcslucena@yahoo.com.br.
Rita de Cássia Saldanha
Rde C
Lucena
Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Felipe
F
Fregni
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D065908:Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*
brain stimulation; language disorders; tDCS