This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy on core symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder. Participants will receive designed physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech program in addition to Photobiomodulation over a defined period. Out comes will be assessed using standardized clinical scales to determine improvements in social interactions, communication and behavior.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition typically characterized by social and communicative problems as well as repetitive patterns of behaviour. Photobiomodulation is non-invasive exposure of light, typically within the red to near-infrared spectrum, to elicit physiological effects across several tissue systems. This study is designed as a randomized controlled trial to assess the effect of Photobiomodulation on core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder. Participants will be recruited from outpatient clinic of faculty of physical therapy at Cairo University. The intervention protocol includes that the child is in supine lying position with eyes covered with sheet. Each participant started with a 2 min treatment. Participants who tolerated the treatment well received incrementally larger doses (2 min) in each of 5 subsequent sessions, for a maximum dose of 12 min. Two groups of children each received a random assignment. after being selected from outpatient clinic of faculty of physical therapy. Both groups (A and B) participated in physical treatment for three months; group A had designed physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech program, whereas group B had the same designed physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech program in addition to Photobiomodulation. Ethical considerations: This study has been reviewed and approved by Institutional Review Board / Ethics Committee via the Faculty of Physical Therapy Research Ethics Officer. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants before enrollment.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
30
non-invasive exposure of light, typically within the red to near-infrared (\~λ = 600-1300 nm) spectrum, to elicit physiological effects across several tissue systems. The application will be transcranial with distance of 50 cm above the head. The child is in supine lying position with eyes covered with sheet
Improvement in core symptoms of autism
Assessment of changes in core autism symptoms using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale.The scale ranges from 15 to 60 , with higher scores indicating more severe autism symptoms (worse out come).
Time frame: Baseline and after 3 months of intervention
Improvement in sensory profile
Assessment of a child's sensory processing patterns using the Sensory Profile 2. The Sensory Profile 2 is a standardized caregiver questionnaire that evaluates sensory processing across multiple domains. Scores are categorized into performance ranges (e.g., "Much Less Than Others", "Less Than Others," Just Like the Majority of Others," "More Than Others," "Much More Than Others") , with deviations from the typical range indicating greater sensory processing difficulties (worse outcome).
Time frame: Baseline and after 3 months of intervention
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