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Autism Spectrum DisorderNCT01179841

Intervention for Toddlers at Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

A study testing Playgroup and Parent Training in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, run by Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc. at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This research is being done to test the effectiveness of an early intervention model for very young children at high risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their families. If children show improvement in this intervention, the investigators hope that the availability of public services of this type will be… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 11 to 21 months
Conditions the study is for
Autism Spectrum Disorder
What is being tested?
Playgroup and Parent Training
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
49 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Jan 2008to Dec 2011
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 11 to 21 months
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child

Who may be able to join

  • Children will be ascertained between 11 months and 21 months of age
  • Must be able to enter the study prior to their second birthday
  • Must then pass an eligibility assessment to determine whether the child meets criteria for ASD and thus qualifies for the study. This assessment will consist of the Baby ADOS and the Mullen Scales of Early Learning. Children must meet criteria for ASD or autism on the ADOS, score more than one standard deviation below the mean on the Receptive or Expressive Language scale of the MSEL, and have a clinical judgment of ASD to be eligible for enrollment into treatment.
  • Parents must agree to participate in the study and commit to having their child participate in the intervention to which they are randomized for 6 months
  • The parent (or other primary caregiver, such as grandparent) in the Parent Enrichment/Training condition must agree to attend the training sessions

Who cannot join

  • Fail hearing or vision screening (by pediatrician's office, audiologist, or ophthalmologist)
  • Family's first language being other than English (language measures are normed on English speakers, putting non-English speakers at a disadvantage. In addition, the treatment is delivered in English. Children from non-English speaking homes may not make progress, but for reasons other than the efficacy of the intervention.)
  • Head injury (because this may cause some of the symptoms, which may not be due to autism and therefore we would not be able to assess the effects of the intervention on autism)
  • Identified reason for the autism (e.g., fragile X syndrome, Rett syndrome, Tuberous Sclerosis)
  • Inability of the family to attend the playgroup sessions and parent trainings
  • Parents whose hearing or vision is not within normal limits after correction (e.g., hearing aid, glasses)
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  • Parents with developmental delays, language or learning impairments, or a psychiatric diagnosis IF the impairment would interfere with parent training (PI will assess on a case by case basis by talking to the parent)
  • Foster children
  • Refusal to allow videotaping of the children's assessments or intervention or to allow videotaped footage to be used for teaching purposes.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Kennedy Krieger Institute

    Baltimore, Maryland, 21211

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: A Comprehensive Approach to Intervention for Toddlers at Risk for ASD

This research is being done to test the effectiveness of an early intervention model for very young children at high risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their families. If children show improvement in this intervention, the investigators hope that the availability of public services of this type will be increased. Children between 11 months and 21 months old with Autism Spectrum Disorders, or with social and communication delays that indicate high risk for Autism Spectrum Disorders, and their parents may join the study. Treatment must start prior to the second birthday.

Being tested
Playgroup, Parent Training
Keywords
Autism Spectrum Disorder, language, social, toddlers
Medical subject headings
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Language

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • PlaygroupBehavioural

    The playgroup will be conducted at our center and focuses on providing an invigorating learning environment in which emerging skills/knowledge are skillfully brought to a higher level of maturity, integrated with existing abilities, and used functionally. Learning with and through peers, provides the opportunity to address abnormal peer relationships for developmental level. Providing an enriched environment with toys, structured learning, and opportunities for ongoing engagement we offer the children experiences that they would not otherwise have. Parent training sessions will focus on strategies aimed at improving child social engagement and communication. Parent education sessions will focus on topics related to autism, learning styles, interventions, and resources.

  • Parent TrainingBehavioural

    Also called Enrichment Sessions

    The 1-2 hour individual therapeutic sessions with parent training in the home or clinic (1x every week over six months) are based on our own program which is in development. This program focuses on teaching parents how to encourage social and communication skills in their toddlers and also provides comprehensive information about development. Sessions will focus on knowledge of autism, current access to services, general knowledge of strategies used to facilitate child development, advocacy, knowledge of how to access services, and coping strategies.

  • Parent TrainingBehavioural

    Also called Individual Therapeutic Sessions

    In the once-a-week 1 to 2 hour parent training/enrichment, we will ask parents to target specific play and care routines in which they may stimulate their child's development in the ways identified by the therapist. These stimulation times may be provided by the parents, other family members, friends, volunteers or hired assistants. Parents will be encouraged to have their child in direct skill-enhancing engagement for 1-2 hour per day. The therapist will work with the family to identify times during the day that best lend themselves to accomplishing this goal.

Study groups in NCT01179841
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Playgroup and Parent TrainingExperimental1. One to two-hour individual therapeutic sessions with parent training in the home or clinic, 1x every week over six months; 2. parent training/enrichment once a week in our clinic for 20 sessions at 1-2 hours; 3. a playgroup session for 1-2 hours 2x week for 6 months in our clinic and 4. Community treatment as usual.
Receives: Behavioral: Playgroup; Behavioral: Parent Training
Parent TrainingActive comparator1. Parent enrichment sessions once a week for 20 sessions (for 1-2 hours) 2. Community treatment as usual.
Receives: Behavioral: Parent Training

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Developmental Level

    Using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning to assess.

    Measured: 3 months into treatment, 6 months into treatment, and 6 months after treatment ends

Secondary outcomes (6)
  1. Communication

    Using Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales to assess.

    Measured: 3 months after treatment starts

  2. Communication

    Using Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales to assess.

    Measured: 6 months into treatment

  3. Communication

    Using Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales to assess.

    Measured: 6 months after treatment ends

  4. Presence and Severity of Autism

    Using Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule to assess.

    Measured: 3 months after treatment starts

  5. Presence and Severity of Autism

    Using Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule to assess.

    Measured: 6 months into treatment

  6. Presence and Severity of Autism

    Using Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule to assess.

    Measured: 6 months after treatment ends

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted11 Aug 2010 (estimated)
  2. Study startJan 2008
  3. Primary completionDec 2011
  4. Study completionDec 2011

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
49 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01179841
Sponsor's protocol ID
NA_00006553
Status last verified
Mar 2021
First submitted
21 Jul 2010
Last updated
10 Mar 2021
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Publications

  • Keen D, Rodger S, Doussin K, Braithwaite M. A pilot study of the effects of a social-pragmatic intervention on the communication and symbolic play of children with autism. Autism. 2007 Jan;11(1):63-71. doi: 10.1177/1362361307070901.

    PubMed 17175574
  • Solomon R, Necheles J, Ferch C, Bruckman D. Pilot study of a parent training program for young children with autism: the PLAY Project Home Consultation program. Autism. 2007 May;11(3):205-24. doi: 10.1177/1362361307076842.

    PubMed 17478575
  • Howlin P, Gordon RK, Pasco G, Wade A, Charman T. The effectiveness of Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) training for teachers of children with autism: a pragmatic, group randomised controlled trial. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2007 May;48(5):473-81. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2006.01707.x.

    PubMed 17501728

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Playgroup and Parent Training in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, run by Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc. at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Mar 2021. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Developmental Level (time frame: 3 months into treatment, 6 months into treatment, and 6 months after treatment ends). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01179841, which also lists 3 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 10 Mar 2021.

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