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Effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on phonological awareness of dyslexic children
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Mehdi Rezaei *1    , Fatemeh Peigodari1 , Mohammad Reza Asadi Younesi1 |
| 1- University of Birjand |
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Abstract: (182 Views) |
Abstract
Objective: Recently, transcranial direct electrical stimulation (tDCS) has been the focus of research to improve phonological awareness. This study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the effectiveness of transcranial direct electrical stimulation (tDCS) on the phonological awareness of dyslexic children. Method: The study used a pretest-posttest control group design with one-month follow-up. The statistical population consisted of all dyslexic students (8–12 years old) who were referred to Baharestan Education and Training Consulting Center (Tehran Province/Iran) during November 2023 and April 2024, among which 40 students (27 boys and 13 girls) were selected by convenience sampling method. The students were randomly assigned into two experimental (active stimulation; n=20) and control (sham stimulation; n=20) groups. Bilateral tDCS was applied over the temporal-parietal cortex (anode electrode between TP7 and P7; cathode electrode between TP8 and P8). The experimental and control groups received twelve 20-minute sessions of active and sham stimulation, respectively. The List of Teacher's Dyslexia Symptoms, Reading and Dyslexia Test (NEMA), Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, Fifth Edition (SBIS-5), and phonological awareness were used to collect the required data. Results: The results showed that tDCS led to the improvement of phonemic awareness (phonetic composition, intersection of phonemes, recognition of words with the same initial and final phonemes, naming and deletion of the initial and final phonemes, and eliminating the middle vowel) (p<0.01); however, it had no significant effect on syllabic intersection, rhyme recognition, and homogeneity detection (p>0.05). Conclusion: tDCS is, thus, a promising intervention that strengthens phonological awareness abilities. So, clinical therapists can use it as a complementary intervention. |
Article number: 6 |
| Keywords: Transcranial direct electrical stimulation (tDCS), Phonological awareness, Dyslexia, Children |
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Full-Text [PDF 706 kb]
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2024/04/28 | Accepted: 2025/06/7 | Published: 2025/07/10
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