Phase 1 Study of the Parent-delivered Massage Treatment Protocol for Children With Autism Ages 6 to 11
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Autism
- Sponsor
- Western Oregon University
- Enrollment
- 35
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in severity of autism
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 10 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
Through funding from the U.S. Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Teaching Research Institute at Western Oregon University (WOU) will be conducting research on the effect of a parent-delivered massage program on measures of autism and general development in children ages 6 to 11 with autism. Families will participate in an initial training, and receive 24 sessions of ongoing support and training from a trained therapist over the first nine months.
Detailed Description
Children will be randomly divided into treatment groups and wait-list control groups. The control groups begin treatment five months after the treatment groups begin. All children will be tested on three occasions in the first year: prior to beginning treatment, and five and twelve months later. Results will be shared with parents at the end of each year. Testers will remain blinded as to which group is currently receiving treatment. There is no cost to parents for participation in this research study. Families meeting the eligibility criteria will be accepted into the study on a first-come, first-served basis.
Investigators
Louisa Silva
Principal Investigator, Visiting Professor
Western Oregon University
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Have a medical and/or educational diagnosis of autism
- •Be between the age of 6 and 11
- •Parents willing to attend the parent training session and transport the child to treatment sessions with trained staff 20 times in the first five months
- •Parents willing to give the fifteen-minute massage daily
- •Parents willing not to start any new interventions unless medically necessary
Exclusion Criteria
- •Taking psychoactive medication or pharmaceutical chelation therapy
- •Additional chronic disability (for example, cerebral palsy or uncontrolled seizures)
- •Receiving more than fifteen hours per week of intensive behavioral treatment for autism (e.g. Applied Behavior Analysis therapy)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in severity of autism
Time Frame: 5 months and one year
The Childhood Autism Rating Scales will be used to measure this.
Secondary Outcomes
- Change in developmental skills(5 months and one year)