08/01/2025
Could light therapy help kids with autism?
It might sound futuristic, but it’s already here—and the results are turning heads. In a recent clinical trial, researchers tested something surprisingly gentle and simple: low-level laser light (yes, actual light!) directed at specific points on the head in children with autism. And what happened next? Pretty incredible.
The therapy—known as photobiomodulation—used red and infrared light aimed at the base of the skull and the sides of the head. Each session lasted just five minutes. No pain. No medication. Just light. Kids received treatment twice a week for four weeks, and that was it.
What followed were noticeable changes. Parents and clinicians reported calmer moods, fewer meltdowns, better focus, and even more social engagement. What’s even more exciting? These improvements lasted weeks beyond the final treatment.
Photobiomodulation isn’t new. It’s been used for years in wound healing and pain relief. It works by stimulating your cells to produce more energy (ATP), which helps the body repair and regulate itself. But applying this to the brain—especially in kids with neurological or developmental differences—is a promising new direction.
The study also showed that younger kids (ages 5–12) experienced the biggest shifts. Which makes sense—the younger the brain, the more flexible and responsive it tends to be.
There were no negative side effects. Just a gentle, non-invasive therapy that helped children feel more connected, less reactive, and more at ease in their own bodies.
This doesn’t mean light therapy is a cure, or a replacement for other treatments. But for parents looking for natural, supportive tools that don’t come with a list of side effects? This might be the light at the end of the tunnel.
