Management of Children with Speech Disorders via Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: Non-Randomized Controlled Study

Background. Speech development impairment is urgent and common problem in pediatric neurology. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is one of the promising treatment variants for children with speech disorders. Objective. The aim of the study is to evaluate efficacy and safety of the developed approaches to TMS usage in the management of children with speech disorders. Methods. It was non-randomized controlled study. It included 46 children with speech disorders aged from 3 to 6.5 years. All children were divided into two groups comparable by gender and age: 26 children of the treatment group received TMS course, 20 children of the control group received treatment with hopantenic acid. All patients with speech disorders underwent psychological and pedagogical evaluation of speech and cognitive development, electroencephalography (EEG) before and after treatment. Moreover, comparative analysis of TMS and nootropic therapy efficacy was carried out. Specialized examination of speech and cognitive development was also performed via E.A. Strebeleva method for psychological and pedagogical diagnosis of children development. Furthermore, we carried out side reactions / adverse events registration according to patients and/or their parents complaints confirmed by physical examination, patient’s behavior observation, data from specially developed questionnaire for assessing child’s behavior and well-being (filled up by parents). Finally, we evaluated brain bioelectric activity recorded by EEG. Results. The study results have shown that it is possible to achieve significant positive dynamics in cognitive and speech development in preschool children with speech disorders in both groups (TMS course and medical treatment). But hereby, TMS treatment has demonstrated significantly higher positive dynamics in two out of the three evaluated parameters. There were no cases of adverse events in TMS group leading to early course discontinuation. Conclusion. TMS is non-invasive and safe method for treatment of children with speech disorders. This study has demonstrated the efficacy of the method in the field of personalized management of children with impaired speech and cognitive development.