Can music-assisted language interventions improve communication skills in children with autism spectrum disorder?

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Autism spectrum disorder; Mental and Behavioural Disorders; Childhood autism

• Registration Number: ISRCTN12536062
• Lead Sponsor: niversity of Reading

Brief Summary

2021 Protocol article in https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34598714/ (added 04/10/2021) 2024 Results article in https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38433533/ (added 08/03/2024)

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Results First Posted: 1900-01-01
• Study Start: 2019-07-05
• Study Completion: 2022-02-28
• Last Update Posted: 18 March 2024

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 27

Inclusion Criteria

1. Aged between 2-4 at entry.
2. Nonverbal or minimally verbal, with fewer than 20 functional words (Kasari, Brady, Lord, & Tager-Flusberg, 2013).
3. Meet criteria for ASD on the Toddler Module of the ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition; Esler et al., 2015; Luyster et al., 2009; Randall et al., 2018), and a clinical diagnosis based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013) criteria using all available information.
4. Willingness to complete the intervention.

Exclusion Criteria

1. A neurodevelopmental disorder of known etiology (e.g., fragile X syndrome).
2. Significant sensory or motor impairment.
3. Major physical problems such as a chronic serious health condition.
4. Seizures at time of entry.
5. Use of psychoactive medications.
6. History of a serious head injury and/or neurologic disease.
7. Alcohol or drug exposure during the prenatal period.
8. Ratio IQ below 35 as measured by mean age equivalence score/chronological age on the visual reception and fine motor subscales of the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (Mullen, 1995).

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
The production of 36 target words is assessed by a blinded outcome data assessor at baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
1. IQ is measured using Mullen Scales of Early Learning, 1995 at baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up.<br>2. Receptive and expressive language is measured using Receptive and Expressive One-Word Picture Vocabulary Tests, Fourth Edition; ROWPVT-4, EOWPVT-4 at baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up.<br>3. ASD symptomatology is measured using the ADOS-2 at baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up.<br>4. Vocal production throughout 3 days is measured using audio recordings at baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up.