Effectiveness of neuromodulation with tDCS on developmental dyslexia: A randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial

Abstract

Regarding the utility of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in dyslexic children, the results are promising but also ambiguous. The present study aimed to investigate whether tDCS would enhance the reading skills of dyslexic children and whether the effect is long-lasting. A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial was used. Forty children with developmental dyslexia received twelve 20-min left anodal right cathodal tDCS set at 1 mA over the temporo-parietal cortex. Reading tasks (low and high-frequency words, non-words, irregular words, and text reading errors) were used as outcome measures and collected before treatment, after treatment, and one month after intervention. The safety of tDCS was also evaluated. In the active tDCS, the mean scores of low-frequency and non-word reading, and text reading errors were significantly improved immediately and one month after the treatment, compared to the sham tDCS. Concerning high-frequency and irregular word reading, there were no significant differences between the active and sham tDCS at post-test and follow-up. Our findings might provide a framework to facilitate behavioral rehabilitation in children with developmental dyslexia.