Evaluating The Efficacy of Pathways Parent-Mediated Intervention's Mutual Gaze Protocol on Social Skills in Young Children Suspected of Having Autism: A Randomized Control Trial
The University of Texas at Dallas
Summary
Purpose of the Study: The goal of this clinical trial is to find out if a technique called the "mutual gaze procedure," used in Pathways Early Intervention (Pathways), is the key to helping improve social communication, language, and everyday skills in young children (16-30 months old) who are at high risk for autism, particularly those from diverse cultural and language backgrounds. What Will Happen: Researchers will compare two versions of the Pathways Intervention: * Version 1: Includes mutual gaze strategies. * Version 2: Does not include mutual gaze strategies. What to Expect: Participants will: * Attend 12 sessions of Pathways Intervention, each lasting 1.5 hours (or 15 weeks if there are cancellations). * Come to the clinic for a developmental check-up three times: before starting Pathways, right after completing Pathways, and three months after finishing Pathways.
Description
Purpose of the Study: The primary goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a parent-mediated treatment can improve social communication, language, and adaptive functioning in 16-30-month-old children from diverse cultural and language backgrounds who are at high risk for autism (referred to as children with social challenges). Study Design: * Study Phase: N/A * Intervention Model: Participants are assigned to one of two groups in parallel. Study Description: * Participants: 80 children aged 16-30 months who show social communication challenges and are at high risk for autism will…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 1–2 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Children must be between 16-30 months old at the start of the study; * Children must receive social disability index of 7 or lower on the EarliPointTM assessment with a researcher (i.e., human) confirming social challenges are present; * Parents must report no other known neurological or genetic concerns or disorders * Parents must be fluent in English * Parents must live within a 30-mile radius of the Callier Center Dallas. Exclusion Criteria: * Children younger than 16 months or older than 30 months at the start of the study * Children who are not at high risk for au…
Interventions
- BehavioralPathways Parent Mediated Intervention
Pathways-trained research clinicians will conduct 90-minute weekly coaching sessions with caregivers in the family's home or other convenient location. Caregivers will receive a written version of the program manual. Sessions will review information about social communication, infusing mutual gaze in social sensory routines, and using naturalistic developmental behavioral strategies. Interventionists will demonstrate intervention strategies and provide caregivers with practice feedback and self-reflection.
- BehavioralPathways Parent Mediated Intervention without Mutual Gaze
Pathways-trained research clinicians will conduct 90-minute weekly coaching sessions with caregivers in the family's home or other convenient location. Caregivers will receive a written version of the program manual. Sessions will review information about social communication, social sensory routines, and naturalistic developmental behavioral strategies described in the program manual. Interventionists will demonstrate intervention strategies and provide caregivers with practice feedback and self-reflection.
Location
- University of Texas at DallasRichardson, Texas