Training Early Social Language in Autism

Summary

The aim of the study is to determine whether a targeted behavioral intervention can lead to both changes in early communication skills and in neural responses in toddlers and preschoolers with autism.

Conditions

• Autism Spectrum Disorder

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Jasper

Families in the joint attention intervention will receive 10 weeks of the JASPER (Joint Attention Symbolic Play Engagement Regulation) protocol. JASPER is a treatment approach based on a combination of developmental and behavioral principles developed by Dr. Connie Kasari at the Center for Autism Research and Treatment, at University of California, Los Angeles. Our research staff will be trained on the specific techniques of JASPER guided by Connie Kasari (consultant on project) and her colleagues The study's intervention involves 2 days/week of 60-minute sessions with a trained experimenter (which may take place in the lab or home, depending on the needs of the family). The primary goal for the intervention will be to increase the frequency and range/variety of joint attention and to advance the child to higher levels (e.g., from requesting to initiating joint attention acts).

BEHAVIORAL

Parent Education

Families in the parent education intervention. Parent education will be provided in group sessions. During the sessions information is presented about ASD, how to deal with behavioral difficulties and available services, and parents are given an opportunity to share experiences. Parents will attend a weekly session for 10 weeks. 10 different topics will be discussed, which include: causes and symptoms of autism, diagnosis process, treatment options, enhancing communicative abilities in children with autism, emotion regulation, dealing with distress, correcting behavior difficulties, applying structure and routines.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Maryland, College Park

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Chicago

  collaborator OTHER

• Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France

  collaborator OTHER

• University of California, Los Angeles

  collaborator OTHER

• Boston Medical Center

  collaborator OTHER

• Boston University Charles River Campus

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Helen Tager-Flusberg, PhD · Boston University Charles River Campus

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Months

Max Age

59 Months

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2016-07-01

Primary Completion

2021-08-31

Completion

2021-08-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations