Please note: This trial has finished recruiting and is not accepting new participants.

Research Center: Emerson College in partnership with New York University
Location: This is nationwide virtual study
Lead Researcher: Dr. Sudha Arunachalam; Dr. Rhiannon Luyster
IRB Committee: This study has been reviewed and approved by the Biomedical Research Alliance of New York LLC Institutional Review Board

Background

 

According to the National on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability. The term “spectrum” applies to the wide range of symptoms, skills, and impairment levels that people with ASD can have. Autism can cause social, communication, and behavioral challenges. Many children show signs by 12 months to 18 months of age or earlier. Children with autism may have difficulties in developing language skills.

This nationwide virtual study seeks to understand how children learn language. Because parents and other caregivers play an important role in children’s language learning, researchers want to learn the role of parents and caregivers in helping children learn language. Through this study, researchers hope to improve the way language is taught to young children.

Researchers are seeking children aged 3 to 5 years old who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. This virtual study requires the participation of both the child and the caregiver. Interested participants must be willing to comply with all the study requirements. Compensation will be available to eligible participants who complete study activities.

Why Participate? 

 

• Participants may help researchers understand how kids with ASD learn and whether synchronous e-learning is an effective tool for them.
• Participants may help improve interventions for teaching language to children with ASD.
• Participants will be compensated with a $120 Amazon gift card for participating in this study.
• Participants will help advance research on child learning and development.

Your Rights

 

• If you decide to participate in the study and later feel that you or your child no longer wish to be part of it, you may withdraw at any time.
• You and your child’s records relating to this study and any other information received will be kept strictly confidential, except as required by law.

Who Can Participate?

 

• Children aged 3-5 years old who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
  • This study requires the participation of both the child and the caregiver (the child’s parent, legal guardian, etc.).
• Participants must be willing to answer online surveys and questionnaires about their family. 
  • The surveys and questionnaires will take about 1 hour to complete online, they can be self-paced and will not require to be completed in one sitting.
  • These online surveys and questionnaires can be completed by the participant from any location on a desktop, laptop, or tablet computer and will focus on the child’s demographics, daily activities, and language use.
• Participants must be able to attend virtual sessions totaling about 1.5 hours. This virtual session will be conducted via the Zoom video conferencing software. During this session, caregivers may be asked to play and interact with their child via a mini guided play session while the study team observes. 
  • The child will also be asked to play some games with the study team on the computer or tablet via Zoom video conferencing software. 
  • The caregiver will be with the child the entire time. 

Please note that: If your child is going to be 3 years old within the next few weeks, your child may be eligible for our study.

About The Research Centers:

 

Please note:

 

Due to the current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic, the study team would like to note the following:

• This is a virtual study which means you can participate in the comfort of your own home. 
• There will be no in-person visits or clinic appointments in this study.
• In this study, there is no need to have close interactions with any person outside of your household.