Examining the Efficacy of a Mobile Therapy for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Dennis Paul Wall

Status: Completed

Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder

Treatments: Device: Autism Glass

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03569176

IRB-34059

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this research is to study the effects of a novel artificial intelligence (AI) tool for automatic facial expression recognition that runs on Google Glass through an Android app to deliver social emotion cues to children with autism during social interactions. This novel device will use a camera, microphone, head motion tracker to analyze the behavior of the subject during interactions with other people. The system is designed to give participants non-interruptive social cues in real-time and will record social responses that can later be used to help aid behavioral therapy. It is hypothesized that the system's ability to provide continuous behavioral therapy during social interactions will enable faster gains in social skills.

Enrollment: 74 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 6 to 12 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. the child has been diagnosed professionally with ASD
2. the child is currently receiving ABA therapy at least twice per week at home.
3. The child's family is willing to drive to Stanford University for up to 4 study appointments.

Exclusion criteria

1. The child scores less than 15 on the Social Communication Questionnaire
2. The child's family does not speak English

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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74 participants in 2 patient groups

Autism Glass Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in the experimental group will receive the autism glass for 6 weeks once they are assigned to the experimental condition. Participants will be asked to use the glasses at least 3 times a week for 20 minutes sessions in addition to continuing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy.

Treatment:

Device: Autism Glass

Crossover Control for Autism Glass

Other group

Description:

Participants randomized to the control arm, will continue treatment as usual (receiving ABA twice a week) while the intervention participants will receive the Autism Glass intervention (while continuing to receive ABA therapy). After 6 weeks, control participants will receive the Autism Glass intervention after which, they will be asked to come in for a second round of follow-up testing following 6 weeks of use (at week 18).

Treatment:

Device: Autism Glass