A Pilot Feasibility Study to Increase Vocal Language in Minimally Verbal Children Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Overview
- Phase
- N/A
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Sponsor
- Emory University
- Enrollment
- 16
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Feasibility of intervention assessed by a change in frequency of target vocalizations and/or approximations during sessions
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 9 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
The purpose of the current study is to deliver the SSP procedure to children diagnosed with autism that do not have vocal language. The study will also aim to gather data in the natural environment using a voice recorder.
Detailed Description
The purpose of this study is to teach children with autism who do not produce sounds or words to vocalize sounds or words by using the stimulus-stimulus pairing (SSP) procedure. The investigators will use SSP, an intervention based in behavior analysis, to try to help the child vocalize sounds. A vocal recorder will also be sent home so that the caregiver can record the child's vocalization at home. The caregiver will then be asked to return this so that the investigators can listen to it. By doing this, the investigators hope to learn if the treatment helps increase the child's vocalizations at home. Some children in the study will receive treatment immediately. Some children may enroll in the study now but not receive intervention until a later date. All children in the study will receive treatment within one year of enrolling in the study.
Investigators
Alice Shillingsburg
Assistant Professor
Emory University
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Diagnosis of autism
- •Currently do not emit vocalizations or minimally verbal
- •Willingness of the participant's parent/guardian to bring their child to the Marcus Autism Center for one-hour appointments, five days a week, for six weeks.
Exclusion Criteria
- •Children with significant problem behavior that interferes with structured intervention
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Feasibility of intervention assessed by a change in frequency of target vocalizations and/or approximations during sessions
Time Frame: Week 1, Week 6
The therapist will pair echoic sounds and words with preferred items. A target vocalization is any vocal response that matches the paired sound or word. An approximation is any sound that is a component of the targeted word. A successful vocalization is when the participant emits the target or approximation of a targeted sound or word. Change is defined as the difference in the number of vocalizations at week 1 and week 6.
Change in frequency of target vocalizations and/or approximations at home
Time Frame: Week 1, Week 6
Vocalization data will be collected in the home via the vocal recorder device. Target vocalization is when the participant emits the target sound or word. An approximation is any sound that is a component of the targeted word. Change is defined as the difference in the number of vocalizations at week 1 and week 6.
Change in parent-reported vocalizations
Time Frame: Week 1, Week 6
A parent-rated checklist will assess their child's vocal language and parents will rate improvement as a yes or no question on the checklist at week 1 and week 6.
Feasibility of intervention assessed by reliability of delivery by therapists
Time Frame: Week 6
The number of times stimulus-stimulus pairing (SSP) is reliably delivered by the therapist to the participant during the treatment period of 6 weeks will be assessed. Reliable delivery consists of the therapist pairing sounds and words with preferred items in accordance to the protocol.
Acceptability of stimulus-stimulus pairing (SSP) by parents
Time Frame: Week 6
The level of compliance and willingness of the parents/guardian to bring the subjects to the treatment sessions will be assessed. Acceptability is when the parent/guardian brings the subject to the clinic for the treatment sessions for one hour a day, five days per week, for 6 weeks.
Secondary Outcomes
- Feasibility of intervention assessed by compliance of the vocal recorder(Week 6)
- Feasibility of the vocal recorder assessed by the utility of vocal recorder(Week 6)