Emergence of Generative Language

Emory University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder

Treatments: Behavioral: Stimulus Equivalence Training; Behavioral: Mand Training; Behavioral: Matrix

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02555241

IRB00080641

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Enrollment: 9 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 4 to 6 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

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

Exclusion criteria

• Children with significant problem behavior that interferes with structured intervention

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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9 participants in 3 patient groups

One Baseline Session

Experimental group

Description:

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.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Matrix

Behavioral: Mand Training

Behavioral: Stimulus Equivalence Training

Two Baseline Sessions

Experimental group

Description:

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.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Matrix

Behavioral: Mand Training

Behavioral: Stimulus Equivalence Training

Three Baseline Sessions

Experimental group

Description:

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.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Matrix

Behavioral: Mand Training

Behavioral: Stimulus Equivalence Training