Emergence of Generative Language

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Interventions: Behavioral: Mand Training; Behavioral: Matrix; Behavioral: Stimulus Equivalence Training

• Registration Number: NCT02555241
• Lead Sponsor: Emory University

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of several applied behavior teaching procedures on the use of multi-word utterances by children with autism.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2015-09
• Study First Submitted: 2015-09-17
• Study First Submitted QC: 2015-09-17
• Study First Posted: 2015-09-21
• Primary Completion: 2016-11
• Study Completion: 2016-11
• Status Verified: 2016-12
• Last Update Submitted: 2016-12-02
• Last Update Posted: 2016-12-05

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 9

Inclusion Criteria

• Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Provide a diagnostic report confirming a diagnosis of ASD and/or obtain a total raw score of 15 or greater on the Social Questionnaire Lifetime Form (SCQ)
• Speaks primarily in one word utterances
• English as their primary language
• Follows simple 1-step instructions
• Transportation/availability to attend 3, 1-hour sessions each week for 12 weeks

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Exclusion Criteria

• Children with significant problem behavior that interferes with structured intervention

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
One Baseline Session	Stimulus Equivalence Training	Designated for participants #1 and #2. Participants complete 1 Baseline Session followed immediately by 12 weeks of standard treatment. Standard treatment will require the participant to attend clinic-based treatment sessions for 1 hour per day, 3 days per week, for 12 weeks. Standard treatment will consist of 3 components: mand training, matrix training, and stimulus equivalence training.
Three Baseline Sessions	Mand Training	Designated for participants #5 and #6. Participants complete a Baseline Session followed by two repetitions of the Baseline Session (each 12 weeks apart) and 12 weeks of standard treatment immediately following the third session. Standard treatment will require the participant to attend clinic-based treatment sessions for 1 hour per day, 3 days per week, for 12 weeks. Standard treatment will consist of 3 components: mand training, matrix training, and stimulus equivalence training.
Three Baseline Sessions	Matrix	Designated for participants #5 and #6. Participants complete a Baseline Session followed by two repetitions of the Baseline Session (each 12 weeks apart) and 12 weeks of standard treatment immediately following the third session. Standard treatment will require the participant to attend clinic-based treatment sessions for 1 hour per day, 3 days per week, for 12 weeks. Standard treatment will consist of 3 components: mand training, matrix training, and stimulus equivalence training.
Two Baseline Sessions	Matrix	Designated for participants #3 and #4. Participants complete a Baseline Session followed by a 12 week wait period before repeating a Baseline Session followed immediately by 12 weeks of standard treatment. Standard treatment will require the participant to attend clinic-based treatment sessions for 1 hour per day, 3 days per week, for 12 weeks. Standard treatment will consist of 3 components: mand training, matrix training, and stimulus equivalence training.
Two Baseline Sessions	Stimulus Equivalence Training	Designated for participants #3 and #4. Participants complete a Baseline Session followed by a 12 week wait period before repeating a Baseline Session followed immediately by 12 weeks of standard treatment. Standard treatment will require the participant to attend clinic-based treatment sessions for 1 hour per day, 3 days per week, for 12 weeks. Standard treatment will consist of 3 components: mand training, matrix training, and stimulus equivalence training.
Three Baseline Sessions	Stimulus Equivalence Training	Designated for participants #5 and #6. Participants complete a Baseline Session followed by two repetitions of the Baseline Session (each 12 weeks apart) and 12 weeks of standard treatment immediately following the third session. Standard treatment will require the participant to attend clinic-based treatment sessions for 1 hour per day, 3 days per week, for 12 weeks. Standard treatment will consist of 3 components: mand training, matrix training, and stimulus equivalence training.
Two Baseline Sessions	Mand Training	Designated for participants #3 and #4. Participants complete a Baseline Session followed by a 12 week wait period before repeating a Baseline Session followed immediately by 12 weeks of standard treatment. Standard treatment will require the participant to attend clinic-based treatment sessions for 1 hour per day, 3 days per week, for 12 weeks. Standard treatment will consist of 3 components: mand training, matrix training, and stimulus equivalence training.
One Baseline Session	Mand Training	Designated for participants #1 and #2. Participants complete 1 Baseline Session followed immediately by 12 weeks of standard treatment. Standard treatment will require the participant to attend clinic-based treatment sessions for 1 hour per day, 3 days per week, for 12 weeks. Standard treatment will consist of 3 components: mand training, matrix training, and stimulus equivalence training.
One Baseline Session	Matrix	Designated for participants #1 and #2. Participants complete 1 Baseline Session followed immediately by 12 weeks of standard treatment. Standard treatment will require the participant to attend clinic-based treatment sessions for 1 hour per day, 3 days per week, for 12 weeks. Standard treatment will consist of 3 components: mand training, matrix training, and stimulus equivalence training.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Emergence of intraverbal responses	Baseline (Up to 24 Weeks), End of Standard Treatment (Up to 36 weeks)	The goal of intervention is the mastery of 80% of evaluated intraverbal responses (2 for each target, 18 total).
Change in Mean Length of Utterances (MLU) during manding	Baseline (Up to 24 Weeks), End of Standard Treatment (Up to 36 weeks)	The mean length of utterances (MLU) during manding will be evaluated in a 10 minute probe. The goal of intervention is to increase of MLU to an average of 3 words per mand.
Acquisition of noun-verb and color-shape combinations during tacting	Baseline (Up to 24 Weeks), End of Standard Treatment (Up to 36 weeks)	The goal of intervention is mastery of 80% of evaluated noun-verb and color-shape targets.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Macarthur Bates-Communicative Development Inventory (CDI) Score	Baseline (Up to 24 Weeks), End of Standard Treatment (Up to 36 weeks)	The Macarthur Bates-Communicative Development Inventory (CDI) is completed by a parent/caregiver and evaluates current word use . A higher score indicates the use of more words.
Observe overall improvements in pragmatic language within social/play interactions with parents/caregivers, as measured on the Direct Observation of Spoken Language (DOSL).	Baseline (Up to 24 Weeks), End of Standard Treatment (Up to 36 weeks)	A goal of the intervention is to observe an increase in spontaneous mands, an increase in spontaneous tacts, as well as an increase in intraverbal responses.