Musical Rhythm Sensitivity to Scaffold Social Engagement in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Summary
The primary goal of this study is to examine rhythm sensitivity as a predictor of response to naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention (NDBIs) in autistic toddlers. Toddlers receive either Reciprocal Imitation Training (RIT), an evidence-based NDBI that supports children's imitation and social communication skills, or a music-enhanced version of RIT. Throughout their participation in the intervention, toddlers will complete study procedures of viewing naturalistic videos of infant-directed singing and other social scenes while eye gaze data is collected.
Description
Social communication makes use of predictable, rhythmic behaviors and children are sensitive to the rhythm of social interaction from infancy. The goal of the current study is to investigate if social rhythm sensitivity, measured via children' entrained eye-looking when viewing videos of infant-directed singing, predicts autistic toddlers' response to naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention (NDBI). Following eligibility testing and baseline assessments, children are randomized to receive either 30 sessions of Reciprocal Imitation Training (RIT), an NDBI that uses evidence-based stra…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 1–3 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * diagnosis of autism / autism spectrum disorder * 18-36 months of age Exclusion Criteria: * Major hearing or visual impairment (e.g., congenital nystagmus), seizure disorder, genetic syndromes, or gestational age \<=34 weeks.
Interventions
- BehavioralReciprocal Imitation Training
As a naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention (NDBI), Reciprocal Imitation Training (RIT) utilizes contingent imitation, linguistic mapping, modeling, prompting, and contingent reinforcement to train object and gesture imitation during play activities.
- Behavioralmusic-enhanced Reciprocal Imitation Training
Music-enhanced imitation training uses music and rhythm to enhance the predictability and salience of the strategies utilized within the Reciprocal Imitation Training platform (i.e., contingent imitation, linguistic mapping, modeling, prompting, and contingent reinforcement to train object and gesture imitation during play activities).
Location
- Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Tennessee