Communication Intervention for Toddlers With Autism

NCT ID: NCT02595697

Last Updated: 2020-10-06

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

120 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2015-07-31

Study Completion Date

2020-06-30

Brief Summary

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The goal of this study is to conduct an efficacy trial to determine whether an early communication intervention which blends two evidence-based interventions, Enhanced Milieu Teaching (EMT) and Joint Attention, Symbolic Play and Regulation Intervention (JASPER), improves social communication in toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Detailed Description

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This study tests the blended intervention (J-EMT) in a parent-plus-therapist-implementation model that has been demonstrated to be effective with other populations.

The J-EMT communication intervention is tailored to the specific social communication characteristics of children with ASD and is delivered during a critical period in early communication development for these children.

In this study, the investigators compare this blended intervention (J-EMT) to a business as usual (BAU) comparison group. Children assigned to the J-EMT group will receive a total of 48, 1-hour direct intervention sessions over six months that will include teaching their parents to implement J-EMT procedures across daily activities.

The investigators will examine social communication and child vocalizations, expressive and receptive language, symbolic play, and symbol-infused joint engagement to determine whether J-EMT changes both a primary functional outcome and the underlying specific skills that contribute to effective social communication in children with ASD.

Results from this study will indicate the efficacy of this variation of parent-plus-therapist-implemented EMT (i.e., J-EMT) specifically tailored to the characteristics of young children with ASD.

Conditions

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Autism Spectrum Disorder

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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J-EMT for Toddlers with Autism

The J-EMT intervention:(a) teach foundational social communicative behaviors, (b) teach related skills that predict long term language outcomes, (c) teach a range of communicative functions, (d) target specific spoken language skills as well as foundational skills, (e) incorporate instructional methods, contexts, and partners that increase social use of language in natural contexts, and (f) promote generalization and maintenance of newly learned skills to everyday activities and routines. In addition, because parents are essential partners for young children with ASD who are learning to communicate, studies are needed that (g) include parents and (h) specify the method and fidelity of parent instruction and fidelity and dosage with which parents use the trained strategies

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

J-EMT for Toddlers with Autism

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Children assigned to the J-EMT group will receive a total of 48, 1-hour direct intervention sessions over six months that will include teaching their parents to implement J-EMT procedures across daily activities.

Business as Usual Control Group

All children, regardless of group assignment will participate in all assessments. Children randomized to the control group will not receive intervention, but will complete all other research procedures. Other treatments that all children receive in the community will be recorded with bi-monthly surveys.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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J-EMT for Toddlers with Autism

Children assigned to the J-EMT group will receive a total of 48, 1-hour direct intervention sessions over six months that will include teaching their parents to implement J-EMT procedures across daily activities.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

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Communication Intervention for Toddlers with Autism

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Between 24 and 36 months of age
* A diagnosis of ASD as confirmed by the ADOS-2 (module 1)
* Signed informed consent
* Parent willing to be trained

Exclusion Criteria

* Other diagnosis or disability
* Abnormal hearing and/or vision
* Language other than English is the primary language spoken at home
Minimum Eligible Age

24 Months

Maximum Eligible Age

36 Months

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Northwestern University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Vanderbilt University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Ann Kaiser

Ann P Kaiser, PhD

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Ann P Kaiser, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Vanderbilt University

Locations

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Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois, United States

Site Status

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Roberts MY, Stern YS, Grauzer J, Nietfeld J, Thompson S, Jones M, Kaat AJ, Kaiser AP. Teaching Caregivers to Support Social Communication: Results From a Randomized Clinical Trial of Autistic Toddlers. Am J Speech Lang Pathol. 2023 Jan 11;32(1):115-127. doi: 10.1044/2022_AJSLP-22-00133. Epub 2022 Dec 16.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 36525627 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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R324A150094

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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