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Direct Instruction Language for Learning in Autism Spectrum Disorder

NCT02483910 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 137

Last updated 2021-01-06

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The purpose of this study is to test whether Direct Instruction - Language for Learning (DI-LL) is an effective way to teach language skills to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and moderate language delay. Direct Instruction - Language for Learning (DI-LL) uses face to face instruction and specific lessons to teach children language skills. This method has been used previously in children with language delays, but it has not been carefully studied in children with autism spectrum disorder. This study will compare DI-LL and ongoing treatment as usual to treatment as usual (speech therapy, language services, etc.) alone.

Conditions

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Direct Instruction-Language for Learning (DI-LL) via telehealth (e.g., Zoom or WebEx)

DI-LL is composed of up to 150 lessons (15 sets of 10 lessons each - e.g., lessons 1-10, 11-20, 21-30, etc.) that build on one another. The program uses demonstrations and pictures to expand vocabulary and teach language skills to children in manageable steps. The curriculum focuses on teaching spoken language across six areas: actions, description of objects, general information, standardized prompts ("show me" or "point to" or "say the whole thing"), classification, and problem-solving strategies. For example, DI-LL moves from the identification of familiar objects to the description and classification of these objects. Children learn the precise meaning of both familiar and new concepts and use these concepts in statements and questions. The DI-LL also incorporates 15 assessment tests (one for each set of 10 lessons). These assessment tests are given after each set of 10 lessons to confirm mastery of the material and the child's readiness to move on to the next set of 10 lessons.

BEHAVIORAL

Standard of care delivered via telehealth (e.g., Zoom or WebEx)

Usual care including speech therapy in school, community or both

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Emory University

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Lawrence Scahill, MSN, PhD · Emory University

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
4 Years
Max Age
7 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2015-10-31
Primary Completion
2020-11-24
Completion
2020-11-24

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT02483910 on ClinicalTrials.gov