Melodic-based Communication Therapy for Promoting Spoken Language Development in Individuals With Nonverbal Autism

NCT ID: NCT04679974

Last Updated: 2020-12-22

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 10 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2018-06-17
• Study Completion Date: 2018-08-30

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of Melodic Based Communication Therapy (M.B.C.T.) for increasing oral expressive skills in nonverbal children with autism spectrum disorders. MBCT has previously been shown to facilitate an improvement in expressive vocabulary, verbal imitative abilities, number of vocalizations, and social language development in nonverbal children with autism ages 5-7. However, earlier studies were small and did not examine the effects of M.B.C.T. on a younger and older population. This study will examine its effectiveness across a broader sample group. Additionally, this study will examine further predictors of success including but not limited to chronological age, developmental age, the frequency of repetitive/stereotypic behaviors, receptive language score, and social language score.

Detailed Description

The study will be a repeated measures design as assessments will be taken at baseline and on a weekly basis (baseline, weeks 1-4). All participants in the study will receive Melodic Based Communication Therapy (M.B.C.T.). General procedures involved in (M.B.C.T.) are as follows: 25 common first words are selected as the targets (e.g., apple, ball, car, dog, cat, eat, go, etc.). Pictures and objects will be used as stimulus items. The top 3-5 incentives as identified by parent survey will be given according to the therapies specific reinforcement schedule. All treatment and evaluation sessions will be videotaped for future/further analysis and verification purposes. For the purposes of the study design, the same 25 words will be used for all participants.

4. Subjects will be male and female children diagnosed with autism.

5. Subjects will be between 3 years 0 months and 10 years 11 months of age.

6. In total, subject participation will last approximately 4 weeks.

Conditions

Nonverbal and Low Verbal Autism

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

MBCT treatment

Melodic-based communication treatment

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Melodic-based Communication Therapy

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

General procedures involved in (M.B.C.T.) are as follows: 25 common first words are selected as the targets (e.g., apple, ball, car, dog, cat, eat, go, etc.). Pictures and objects will be used as stimulus items. The top 3-5 incentives as identified by parent survey will be given according to the therapies specific reinforcement schedule. All treatment and evaluation sessions will be videotaped for future/further analysis and verification purposes. For the purposes of the study design, the same 25 words will be used for all participants.

Participants will first listen to the target word set to a melodic tone and rhythm on a compact disc (CD). Clinicians will present the stimulus item (e.g., apple) prior to beginning the steps. Therapy will then progress from clapping and singing the melody to answering sung questions and finally to answering spoken questions with the target word

Interventions

Melodic-based Communication Therapy

General procedures involved in (M.B.C.T.) are as follows: 25 common first words are selected as the targets (e.g., apple, ball, car, dog, cat, eat, go, etc.). Pictures and objects will be used as stimulus items. The top 3-5 incentives as identified by parent survey will be given according to the therapies specific reinforcement schedule. All treatment and evaluation sessions will be videotaped for future/further analysis and verification purposes. For the purposes of the study design, the same 25 words will be used for all participants.

Participants will first listen to the target word set to a melodic tone and rhythm on a compact disc (CD). Clinicians will present the stimulus item (e.g., apple) prior to beginning the steps. Therapy will then progress from clapping and singing the melody to answering sung questions and finally to answering spoken questions with the target word

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Male and female children with autism ages 3-years-0-months to 10-years-11-month who meet the criterion for nonverbal (defined as less than 10 words ever spoken expressively and no functional verbal communication)

Exclusion Criteria

• Individuals receiving other language or articulation treatments or therapy at the time of the study, unable to regularly attend four 30 min sessions of therapy weekly for 4 weeks, a history of severe hearing impairment, severe visual impairment/ blindness, a diagnosis of an organic impairment of oral or laryngeal structures, or a significant medical illness or condition which would prevent the child's participation in the treatment procedures. These conditions include, but are not limited to cerebral palsy, paraplegia, spina bifida, uncontrolled seizures, dysarthria, and amputation of arm(s).

• Minimum Eligible Age: 3 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 10 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Loma Linda University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Karen Mainess

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Loma Linda University

Loma Linda, California, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

5170235

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id