Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in the Treatment of Dyslexia.

NCT ID: NCT04244578

Last Updated: 2021-07-23

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

28 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2016-05-01

Study Completion Date

2021-02-01

Brief Summary

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The present study grounds on the absence of evidence-based treatment in individuals with dyslexia. At this topic, the present study will explore the potential effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over parieto-occipital brain regions, cerebral areas usually disrupted in individuals with dyslexia. tDCS will be administered without concomitantly training.

Therefore, the investigators hypothesized that active tDCS over parieto-occipital areas will enhance reading skills in children and adolescents with dyslexia. On the contrary, sham tDCS (placebo) over parieto-occipital areas will not have significant effect on reading. Further, both active and sham tDCS will be safe and well-tolerated.

Detailed Description

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The study design is randomized stratified, cross-over, double-blind, placebo-controlled.

Children and adolescents with dyslexia will be selected and randomly assigned to two different groups: 1. Active tDCS over parieto-occipital areas + sham tDCS over parieto-occipital areas (Active-Sham tDCS); 2. Sham tDCS over parieto-occipital areas + active tDCS over parieto-occipital areas (Sham-Active tDCS).

In this project, the investigators will work to understand whether a brain-based intervention, with the use of tDCS without combined training, can enhance reading in individuals with dyslexia.

The protocol will allow the investigators to:

1. Testing the efficacy of stand-alone tDCS in enhancing reading in individuals with dyslexia;
2. Testing the critical role of brain regions (parieto-occipital areas) usually involved in reading and disrupted in dyslexia;
3. Predicting outcomes based on reading-related skills;
4. Investigating the safety and tolerability of tDCS;

The overarching goal is to provide a scientific foundation for devising new rehabilitation strategies in dyslexia.

Conditions

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Dyslexia

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Caregivers Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Active-Sham tDCS

Each tDCS sessions will be delivered for 5 days for a total of non consecutive two weeks. The first session will be active tDCS and two months after, a sham tDCS will follow.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Active tDCS

Intervention Type DEVICE

Active tDCS will be delivered to parieto-occipital areas for five consecutive days. tDCS will be delivered by a battery driven, direct current stimulator through a pair of saline-soaked sponge electrodes kept firm by elastic bands. The electrodes will be placed on the left (anodal) and right (cathodal) parieto-occipital areas, PO7 and PO8 position according to the 10-20 international EEG system for electrode placement. Stimulation intensity will be set at 1 milliampere (mA), the duration of stimulation will be 20 min.

Sham tDCS

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham tDCS will be delivered to parieto-occipital areas for five consecutive days. tDCS will be delivered by a battery driven, direct current stimulator through a pair of saline-soaked sponge electrodes kept firm by elastic bands. The electrodes will be placed on the left (anodal) and right (cathodal) parieto-occipital areas, PO7 and PO8 position according to the 10-20 international EEG system for electrode placement. Stimulation intensity will be set at 1 milliampere (mA), but the current will be applied for 30 s and will be ramped down without the participants awareness.

Sham-Active tDCS

Each tDCS sessions (sham tDCS and active tDCS) will be delivered for 5 days for a total of non consecutive two weeks.

The first session will be sham tDCS and two months after, an active tDCS will follow.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Active tDCS

Intervention Type DEVICE

Active tDCS will be delivered to parieto-occipital areas for five consecutive days. tDCS will be delivered by a battery driven, direct current stimulator through a pair of saline-soaked sponge electrodes kept firm by elastic bands. The electrodes will be placed on the left (anodal) and right (cathodal) parieto-occipital areas, PO7 and PO8 position according to the 10-20 international EEG system for electrode placement. Stimulation intensity will be set at 1 milliampere (mA), the duration of stimulation will be 20 min.

Sham tDCS

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham tDCS will be delivered to parieto-occipital areas for five consecutive days. tDCS will be delivered by a battery driven, direct current stimulator through a pair of saline-soaked sponge electrodes kept firm by elastic bands. The electrodes will be placed on the left (anodal) and right (cathodal) parieto-occipital areas, PO7 and PO8 position according to the 10-20 international EEG system for electrode placement. Stimulation intensity will be set at 1 milliampere (mA), but the current will be applied for 30 s and will be ramped down without the participants awareness.

Interventions

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Active tDCS

Active tDCS will be delivered to parieto-occipital areas for five consecutive days. tDCS will be delivered by a battery driven, direct current stimulator through a pair of saline-soaked sponge electrodes kept firm by elastic bands. The electrodes will be placed on the left (anodal) and right (cathodal) parieto-occipital areas, PO7 and PO8 position according to the 10-20 international EEG system for electrode placement. Stimulation intensity will be set at 1 milliampere (mA), the duration of stimulation will be 20 min.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham tDCS

Sham tDCS will be delivered to parieto-occipital areas for five consecutive days. tDCS will be delivered by a battery driven, direct current stimulator through a pair of saline-soaked sponge electrodes kept firm by elastic bands. The electrodes will be placed on the left (anodal) and right (cathodal) parieto-occipital areas, PO7 and PO8 position according to the 10-20 international EEG system for electrode placement. Stimulation intensity will be set at 1 milliampere (mA), but the current will be applied for 30 s and will be ramped down without the participants awareness.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Other Intervention Names

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Brainstim Active tDCS Brainstim Sham tDCS

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Children and adolescents with dyslexia (DSM-5, APA 2013)
* IQ ≥ 85

Exclusion Criteria

* Having a comorbidity with an important medical conditions;
* Having neurological diseases;
* Having Epilepsy o family history of epilepsy;
* Receiving a treatment for dyslexia in the previous three months before the baseline screening;
Minimum Eligible Age

9 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Bambino Gesù Hospital and Research Institute

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Deny Menghini

PhD, Clinical Psychologist

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Bambino Gesù Hospital and Research Institute

Roma, , Italy

Site Status

Countries

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Italy

References

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Other Identifiers

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201201X002931

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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