Autism Spectrum DisorderNCT04166591
Study 1 Replication and Extension of Prior Work
A study testing Overheard Speech and Addressed Speech in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, run by New York University at 2 sites in United States.
Trial summary
The goal of this research is to explore abilities to learn word meanings from overheard conversations in children with ASD (and, as a control, typically developing children). Specific Aim 1 (Experiment 1): Subaim 1a: Identify child characteristics associated with learning from overhearing. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 71 monthsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- What is being tested?
- Overheard Speech and Addressed Speech
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 342 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- 5 Jan 2021to 5 Dec 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
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 18 to 71 months
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
- children with or without a diagnosis of ASD between 18 to 71 months of age
Who cannot join
- native language is not English
- born premature (< 36 weeks)
- has uncorrected hearing or vision impairments
- has developmental disorders or medical conditions other than ASD that affect language or cognition (excepting psychiatric conditions often comorbid with ASD such as ADHD)
- has a history of photosensitive epileptic seizures
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country.
United States2 sites
Emerson College
Boston, Massachusetts, 02116
New York University
New York, New York, 10012
About this study
Official title: Learning New Words From Overhearing in Children With ASD
The goal of this research is to explore abilities to learn word meanings from overheard conversations in children with ASD (and, as a control, typically developing children).
Specific Aim 1 (Experiment 1): Subaim 1a: Identify child characteristics associated with learning from overhearing. In a prior study, the investigators found that 13 children with ASD were able to learn the meanings of novel words that they heard used in a conversation involving two adults. In the current study, the investigators aim to study a larger sample to identify what child characteristics are associated with good learning in an overhearing situation as compared to a situation in which the child is directly taught the new word. Subaim 1b: Assess retention and generalization of words learned from overhearing. The investigators will re-test children on their knowledge of the word meanings after a 10-minute delay to see if they both retain the word meanings and can generalize the new words to new situations.
- Conditions
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Being tested
- Overheard Speech, Addressed Speech
- Medical subject headings
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Overheard SpeechBehavioural
New words are introduced with the child as an observer rather directly taught.
Addressed SpeechBehavioural
New words are introduced directly to the child by an experimenter.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Addressed | Experimental | Children participate in an interaction with an experimenter who uses the word to be learned. Receives: Behavioral: Addressed Speech |
| Overheard | Experimental | Children observe while an experimenter uses the word to be learned in an interaction with another experimenter. Receives: Behavioral: Overheard Speech |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Number of Children Who Select the Target Object as Measured by Gaze Preference.
Children are prompted to identify the object that is associated with the target word.
Measured: immediately after viewing 3-minute interaction
Number of Children Who Select the Target Object as Measured by Gaze Preference.
Children are prompted to identify the object that is associated with the target word.
Measured: 5 minutes after viewing interaction
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted18 Nov 2019
- Study start5 Jan 2021
- Primary completion1 Dec 2024
- Study completion5 Dec 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Other trials for Autism Spectrum DisorderStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 342 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- New York University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Emerson College
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04166591
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 280521
- Status last verified
- Nov 2024
- First submitted
- 31 Oct 2019
- Last updated
- 4 Apr 2025
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Apr 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Learning New Words From Overhearing in Children With ASD
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04166591
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 280521
- Conditions
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 342 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- New York UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Emerson College
- Study start
- 5 Jan 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Dec 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 5 Dec 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 18 Nov 2019 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 20 Mar 2025
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this research is to explore abilities to learn word meanings from overheard conversations in children with ASD (and, as a control, typically developing children).
Specific Aim 1 (Experiment 1): Subaim 1a: Identify child characteristics associated with learning from overhearing. In a prior study, the investigators found that 13 children with ASD were able to learn the meanings of novel words that they heard used in a conversation involving two adults. In the current study, the investigators aim to study a larger sample to identify what child characteristics are associated with good learning in an overhearing situation as compared to a situation in which the child is directly taught the new word. Subaim 1b: Assess retention and generalization of words learned from overhearing. The investigators will re-test children on their knowledge of the word meanings after a 10-minute delay to see if they both retain the word meanings and can generalize the new words to new situations.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Addressed | Experimental | Behavioral: Addressed SpeechChildren participate in an interaction with an experimenter who uses the word to be learned. |
| Overheard | Experimental | Behavioral: Overheard SpeechChildren observe while an experimenter uses the word to be learned in an interaction with another experimenter. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 71 months
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- children with or without a diagnosis of ASD between 18 to 71 months of age
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- native language is not English
- born premature (< 36 weeks)
- has uncorrected hearing or vision impairments
- has developmental disorders or medical conditions other than ASD that affect language or cognition (excepting psychiatric conditions often comorbid with ASD such as ADHD)
- has a history of photosensitive epileptic seizures
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Overheard SpeechNew words are introduced with the child as an observer rather directly taught. | Behavioural | Overheard |
| Addressed SpeechNew words are introduced directly to the child by an experimenter. | Behavioural | Addressed |
Primary outcome
Number of Children Who Select the Target Object as Measured by Gaze Preference.
Time frame: immediately after viewing 3-minute interaction
Children are prompted to identify the object that is associated with the target word.
Number of Children Who Select the Target Object as Measured by Gaze Preference.
Time frame: 5 minutes after viewing interaction
Children are prompted to identify the object that is associated with the target word.
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Apr 2025.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Autism Spectrum Disorder
Recruiting
Word Learning From Parentese in Autistic Children
Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorder
Recruiting
COMPASS Across Settings (CAST) for Improving Transition Outcomes for Students With ASD
Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorder
Recruiting
Impact of an E-Learning Coaching for Parents of Young Children With Autism
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Not yet recruiting
Evaluation of a Novel Quantum-Inspired Intervention (QII) for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Global Confirmatory Study
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD
Not yet recruiting
Single Session Support for Parents of Children With Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Struggling With Anxious Avoidance
Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Overheard Speech and Addressed Speech in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, run by New York University at 2 sites 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 1 inclusion and 5 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 4 Apr 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites 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?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 20 Mar 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
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?
Number of Children Who Select the Target Object as Measured by Gaze Preference. (time frame: immediately after viewing 3-minute interaction). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 4 Apr 2025.