Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Trials

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of a 12-week early intervention program that will include 12 weekly hours in an intensive center-based preschool environment or in the home to treat social communication deficits in children with developmental disorders. The study will include children with developmental disorders, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, neurogenetic disorders, or intellectual disability. Read Less

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a very heterogeneous disorder with limited empirically validated behavioral and biological interventions. The goal of this pilot investigation is to apply a biologically-based approach to identify predictors of treatment response in children with ASD who are receiving Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT), an evidence-based behavioral intervention. Specifically, the investigators propose to identify neuroimaging biomarkers of treatment response to a PRT program (PRT-P) targeting language deficits in young children with ASD who will be randomized to either PRT-P or to a delayed treatment group (DTG). Read Less

Rates of suicide have increased significantly over the past two decades, particularly among youth. Compared to the general population, autistic people are significantly more likely to think about suicide, attempt suicide, and die by suicide. Autistic individuals have identified suicide prevention as a top research priority; however, little is known about how to best help autistic youth at risk for suicide. The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness, feasibility, and acceptability of two suicide prevention strategies tailored for autistic individuals: the Safety Planning Intervention tailored for Autistic individuals (SPI-A) and SPI-A plus structured follow-up contacts (SPI-A+). Read Less

The purpose of this research study is to investigate whether tDCS to the cerebellum (specifically, the right crus I/II area of the cerebellum) of children and young adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is safe and to examine its effects on some of the symptoms of ASD, such as repetitive behaviors and hyperactivity. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to examine whether cerebellar stimulation can be used to improve cognitive deficits and mood in patients with schizophrenia, autism, bipolar disorder, Parkinson's disease, and major depression. Read Less

This study is aiming to see if it is feasible for the intervention Work Chat to be delivered in a completely online setting to adults with autism spectrum disorder. Read Less

The study aims to investigate the reliability and validity of an adapted Autism Spectrum Disorder assessment measure for use in a telehealth visit. Read Less

The overarching goal of this proposal is to test the impact of a comprehensive reading intervention program (Visualizing and Verbalizing) on changing the neurobiological mechanisms underlying reading comprehension deficits in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). To this end, the investigators will test a group of children with ASD and NT control participants who share common characteristic of average level decoding along with below average reading comprehension. Inclusion of an additional NT group that does not have any reading comprehension deficit will provide another control for additional comparisons. Read Less

The goal of this study is to conduct the first community-based implementation of the STEPS program and test feasibility and preliminary impact. After first working with stakeholders to refine and optimize the program we will launch a Hybrid Type 1 open trial, targeting 25 transition-age youth (TAY) with ASD. Read Less

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare two school based interventions to manage anxiety in autistic students. The main question[s] it aims to answer are: 1) Compare the effectiveness of Facing Your Fears-School Based Program (FYF-SB) with Zones of Regulation (ZOR) on anxiety reduction and emotion regulation; and 2) examine the feasibility and satisfaction of FYF-SB and ZOR, according to students, caregivers and school providers. Autistic students with anxiety between 8-14 years will be randomized to either FYF-SB and ZOR. They will participate in one of the programs for 12 weeks and pre, post and follow-up measures will occur. Read Less

The long-term study goal is to experimentally evaluate the components (and likely active ingredients) of early language interventions for young children with ASD. The overall objective is to determine how single-word and telegraphic simplification affects real-time language processing and word learning in young children with ASD (relative to full, grammatical utterances). The proposed project will investigate three specific aims: 1) Determine how single-word and telegraphic simplification affects language processing. 2) Determine how single-word and telegraphic simplification affects word learning. 3) Evaluate child characteristics that may moderate the effects of linguistic simplification on language processing and word learning. Aim 1 will test the hypothesis that children with ASD will process full, grammatical utterances faster and more accurately than single-word or telegraphic utterances. Aim 2 will test the hypothesis that full, grammatical utterances will support word learning better than telegraphic or single-word utterances. Aim 3 will test the hypothesis that language and cognitive skills significantly moderate the effects of linguistic simplification on language processing and word learning in young children with ASD. Read Less

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the efficacy of Pathways parent-mediated early autism intervention (Pathways) and a parent education intervention (PEI) delivered to culturally and linguistically diverse families with children 12-42 months of age suspected of or diagnosed with autism. Question 1: Is Pathways more effective than a PEI at (a) fostering the development of social orienting, joint attention, and social communication and language in children with a research diagnosis of autism and (b) relieving their parents' stress? Question 2: Is the magnitude of the relationship between early and later developing attention greater in children whose parents receive Pathways compared to children whose parents receive PEI? Question 3: Is the magnitude of the relationship between joint attention and social communication and language greater in children whose parents receive Pathways compared to children whose parents receive PEI? Participants will be randomized into 24 weeks of Pathways or PEI. Participants will receive a battery of assessments to evaluate the child's cognitive, social attention, social communication, language, and adaptive functioning, and parental stress at four different time points spaced every 12 weeks from baseline to three-month follow-up. Read Less