NCT04278430

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Attention Deficit

Does Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Affect Selective Visual Attention in Children With Left-sided Infantile Hemiplegia? A Preliminary Randomized Controlled Study

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 15 (actual)
• Sponsor: Majmaah University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 8 Years – 15 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Infantile hemiplegia due to brain injury is associated with poor attention. Left-sided infantile hemiplegia affects the learning and acquisition of new skills. This study is aiming to improve the Selective visual attention (SVA) through transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in children with Left-sided infantile hemiplegia .

Detailed description

Infantile hemiplegia (IH) refers to brain injuries that occur before or at birth and lead to hemiplegia/ total paralysis of one side of the body, including the face, arm and leg. The IH is quit rare condition and occurs in 1 in 1000 live births. however, the condition is reported to cause functional and cognitive disability. Children with IH suffer from poor attention particularly visual attention, that is essential to be understand the written language. A focused reading is essential in learning and children with IH possess moderate intelligence and attend school. Transcranial direct current stimulation(tTCS) is a novel intervention that use small amplitude electrical currents to stimulate the essential areas of the brain through surface electrodes placed on the corresponding areas of the brain. The eligible children were divided into two groups. one group received tDCS with visual attention activities and the second group received sham tDCS with similar activities. The effect will be assessed before and after with Strops-color testing and a academic reading test. The experiment intends to explore the affect of tTCS on visual attention span among children with Left-sided infantile hemiplegia.

Conditions

• Infantile Hemiplegia

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	transcranial direct current stimulation	The tDCS stimulator (ActivaDose II tDCS Device; IOMED Inc., Salt Lake City, USA) is a standardized instrument used and tested in children. Two tDCS electrodes of dimensions 3" x 3" were used for the brain stimulation. The electrodes were inserted into a wet saline sponge.
DEVICE	Sham tDCS	Five children with LSIH were randomly allocated to this group. All participants received sham tDCS for 3 weeks on alternate days and completed 10 treatment sessions. The sham tDCS followed preparatory procedures similar to that used for the experimental group, except that the device was disconnected after the initial increase of the current. Children usually started the activity without noticing that the device was disconnected. The children were assessed at baseline, during the 5th and 10th sessions, and during a follow-up that was scheduled for 4 months later.

Timeline

• Start date: 2017-01-03
• Primary completion: 2019-01-14
• Completion: 2019-02-15
• First posted: 2020-02-20
• Last updated: 2020-02-25