Brain-computer interface based attention and social cognition training programme for children with ASD and co-occurring ADHD: A feasibility trial

Brain-computer interface based attention and social cognition training programme for children with ASD and co-occurring ADHD: A feasibility trial

Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders

10.1016/j.rasd.2021.101882

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2021.101882

Sze-Hui Jane Teo, Xue Wei Wendy Poh, Tih Shih Lee, Cuntai Guan, Yin Bun Cheung, Daniel Shuen Sheng Fung, Hai Hong Zhang, Zheng Yang Chin, Chuan Chu Wang, Min Sung, Tze Jui Goh, Shih Jen Weng, Xin Jie Jordon Tng, Choon Guan Lim

Psychiatry and Mental health, Clinical Psychology, Developmental and Educational Psychology

17 November 2021

Teo, S.-H. J., Poh, X. W. W., Lee, T. S., Guan, C., Cheung, Y. B., Fung, D. S. S., Zhang, H. H., Chin, Z. Y., Wang, C. C., Sung, M., Goh, T. J., Weng, S. J., Tng, X. J. J., & Lim, C. G. (2021). Brain-computer interface based attention and social cognition training programme for children with ASD and co-occurring ADHD: A feasibility trial. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 89, 101882. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2021.101882

Background Current treatment practices for comorbid conditions of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) remain limited. This study examined the feasibility of an EEG brain-computer interface (BCI) programme for children with ASD and co-occurring ADHD. Method Twenty children were randomised to the intervention or waitlist-control group. Intervention consisted of thrice-weekly sessions of BCI-based training over 8 weeks. Both groups were followed up 4 weeks later. The BCI-based programme comprised of a series of attention and gaze-modulated games aimed to train social cognitive skills. Results All participants completed at least 20 training sessions and none dropped out of the study. No severe adverse events were reported. Side effects included mild headaches, fatigue, irritability and self-injurious behaviours. All were addressed within the same session. Feedback from therapists indicated that participants’ interest and motivation could be sustained with appropriate supports. Change scores indicated greater improvement in the intervention group compared to the waitlist-control on ADHD symptoms as measured on the ADHD rating scale; no significant differences were observed on social deficits on the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). Pooled data suggests that pre-post improvements could be maintained. Conclusions Findings indicate the BCI-based program is tolerable for most participants. Positive effects were also reported for ADHD symptoms. A future large clinical trial will incorporate appropriate controls to ascertain the efficacy of our training programme.

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

This study was supported by a grant donation from Lee Foundation and the Autism Research Fund from Duke-National University of Singapore

https://oar.a-star.edu.sg/communities-collections/articles/18637

1750-9467

Institute for Infocomm Research