pBFS Guided aiTBS Over Language Network for ASD Child

NCT ID: NCT06950437

Last Updated: 2025-05-11

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

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

150 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-04-25

Study Completion Date

2027-06-01

Brief Summary

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The aim of this trial is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of precision neuromodulation in improving language ability in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who also have language development delay. The neuromodulation will be delivered using the accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation (aiTBS) protocol, targeting the language network in the left superior frontal gyrus (SFG), guided by personalized Brain Functional Sector (pBFS) technology.

Detailed Description

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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder often accompanied by language delay. Emerging evidence indicates that Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) has been effective in restoring language ability in post-stroke aphasia, but its efficacy in developmental language disorders remains unknown.

By leveraging the personalized Brain Functional Sector (pBFS) technique and task-free functional MRI scans, we can accurately locate the individual language function brain network. Considering the accessibility and comfort of neuromodulation, we will stimulate the language network node in the superior frontal gyrus (SFG) for 12 weeks.

In this study, participants meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be randomly assigned to either the active or sham iTBS (intermittent theta burst stimulation) groups at a ratio of 2:1. The treatment protocol lasts for 12 weeks, with sessions held 5 days a week and 3 iTBS sessions over the SFG per day. The inter-session interval is set at 50 minutes, along with speech therapy. Clinical evaluations focusing on language and ASD symptoms will be conducted at baseline, after the 12-week treatment period, and at 24-week follow-up after the start of treatment.

Conditions

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Autism Spectrum Disorder Language Delay

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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active iTBS group

active iTBS over SFG

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

active iTBS

Intervention Type DEVICE

Participants will undergo three iTBS sessions per day, with 1800 pulses per session, over a 12-week period. Individualized targets will be generated using the pBFS technique.

speech therapy

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Speech therapy will be delivered between iTBS/sham sessions. Two 30-minutes trainings every day.

Sham group

sham iTBS over SFG

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham iTBS

Intervention Type DEVICE

Participants will undergo three sham iTBS sessions per day, with 1800 pulses per session, over a 12-week period. Sham stimulation will be delivered through a sham coil with the identical appearance as real coil. Individualized targets will be generated using the pBFS technique.

speech therapy

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Speech therapy will be delivered between iTBS/sham sessions. Two 30-minutes trainings every day.

Interventions

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active iTBS

Participants will undergo three iTBS sessions per day, with 1800 pulses per session, over a 12-week period. Individualized targets will be generated using the pBFS technique.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham iTBS

Participants will undergo three sham iTBS sessions per day, with 1800 pulses per session, over a 12-week period. Sham stimulation will be delivered through a sham coil with the identical appearance as real coil. Individualized targets will be generated using the pBFS technique.

Intervention Type DEVICE

speech therapy

Speech therapy will be delivered between iTBS/sham sessions. Two 30-minutes trainings every day.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Professionally diagnosed with ASD per DSM - 5 criteria.
2. Aged 3 - 6.5 years, either gender.
3. ADOS-2 results meet ASD standard cut - off.
4. SCQ score: ≥15 (age ≥ 4 years) or ≥11 (age \< 4 years).
5. Co-existing language disorder not explaining ASD symptoms. No organic speech organ lesions. CNBS-R2016 and CLAS-TP language-related equivalent age \> 18 months; any CLAS-TP dimension score \< 6.
6. Mandarin is the daily communication language.
7. May have intellectual/global developmental delay not explaining ASD symptoms.
8. Guardians volunteer, can cooperate in treatment and sign informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Identified genetic pathogenic factors; current/past comorbid severe disorders (ADHD, Tourette's, etc.).
2. Serious self-harm in the past year.
3. Severe sensory/motor disorders precluding cooperation.
4. History of epileptic seizures.
5. Serious organic diseases, especially brain related.
6. Contraindications for MRI/TMS (metal/implants).
7. Respiratory/circulatory diseases with sedation risk.
8. Illiterate guardians unable to handle informed consent/questionnaires.
9. Received neuromodulation in the past 3 months.
10. Currently in other clinical trials.
11. Deemed unfit by the researcher.
Minimum Eligible Age

3 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

6 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Peking University Sixth Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Beijing Changping Tianhe Research Institute of Brain Science

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Locations

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Peking University Sixth Hospital

Beijing, , China

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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China

Central Contacts

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Xinyu Duan

Role: CONTACT

13691009590

Facility Contacts

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Li Yang

Role: primary

Other Identifiers

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NGASD002DMC_150

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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