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Effects of alpha rhythm-guided repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on sleep and quality of life outcomes in autistic children A chart review803.68 kB
Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Effects of alpha rhythm-guided repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on sleep and quality of life outcomes in autistic children: A chart review
Research in Autism, Vol.131, pp.1-8
2026
Abstract
Purpose
There is growing, albeit limited, evidence regarding the effects of alpha rhythm-guided repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (α-rTMS) on sleep and quality of life outcomes in autistic children within a clinical setting.
Methods
Clinical charts, including the Children Sleep Habit Questionnaire (CSHQ) and the Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQLTM 4.0), were collected from participants before and after they completed nine sessions of α-rTMS. The pre-post data were analysed using paired Student t-tests.
Results
Data from the clinical charts of 36 participants (24 males and 12 females) aged between 3 and 17 years (mean (SD): 7.6 (3.5) years) were analysed. Among the participants, eight (22 %) and twenty-eight (78 %) were diagnosed with autism levels 2 and 3, respectively. The mean pre-post CSHQ analysis revealed significant improvements in the total CSHQ score (p = 0.035) and in specific subdomains: sleep duration (p = 0.035), night waking (p = 0.050), and daytime sleepiness (p = 0.026). Additionally, the mean post-total PedsQLTM 4.0 score showed significant improvement (p = 0.005), including in the emotional (p < 0.001), social (p = 0.018), and school (p = 0.019) subdomains.
Conclusion
This study contributes to the growing evidence on the positive effects of α-rTMS on sleep difficulties and the quality of life of autistic children. Nonetheless, the findings should be interpreted cautiously until larger numbers of participants are studied within a robust study design.
Details
- Title
- Effects of alpha rhythm-guided repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on sleep and quality of life outcomes in autistic children: A chart review
- Authors
- Uchenna Ezedinma (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson InstituteEvan JonesScott Burgess - Queensland Children's Lung and Sleep Specialists (Australia)Gary Campbell - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of HealthShauna Fjaagesund - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of HealthAlexandra Metse - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - PsychologyTerri Downer - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - MidwiferyFlorin Oprescu - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Public Health
- Publication details
- Research in Autism, Vol.131, pp.1-8
- Publisher
- Elsevier Inc.
- Date published
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.reia.2026.202823
- ISSN
- 3050-6565; 3050-6573
- Copyright note
- © 2026 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
- Data Availability
- Data will be made available on request.
- Grants
- Evaluating an alternative therapy to sleep disorders in children with autism spectrum disorder, 0980027787, University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia, Sunshine Coast) - UniSC
- Grant note
- The study received funding from TMS IP Pty, Queensland's Children Sleep Specialist Clinic, Australia.
- Organisation Unit
- Healthy Ageing Research Cluster; Centre for International Development, Social Entrepreneurship and Leadership; School of Health; Thompson Institute; Engage Research Lab; School of Health - Psychology; School of Health - Midwifery; School of Health - Public Health
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991199050902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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