Communication skills intervention in children suspected of or diagnosed with ASD, a global developmental delay, an intellectual disability, or any other related neurodevelopmental condition. Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Conditions
Interventions
After screening and initial contact, eligibility will be assessed and informed consent will be obtained. Eligible participating families will complete baseline measures relating to communication and a
Sponsors
Public Health Agency of Canada
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. The child is aged between 2 to 7 years; 11 months, 2. The child is suspected of or diagnosed with ASD, a global developmental delay, an intellectual disability, or any other related neurodevelopmental condition, 3. The child is either pre-verbal or has language abilities that are lower than what is expected for their age, i.e., no more than 3-words in length. 4. The primary caregiver, i.e., the individual responsible for the daily care and upbringing of the child, including parents, grandparents or any other adult over the age of 18, is able to attend all relevant assessment and intervention activities.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Child is already enrolled in an intensive treatment program (more than 14 hours a week) 2. Any factor interfering with the caregiver’s ability to complete the program; for example, limited knowledge of English; limited or unstable contact with the child; no access to a computer, tablet or laptop, or a secure internet connection.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Measured at the end of the study: 1. Recruitment rates measured by recording the number of participants who consent to take part in the study. 2. Attrition rate is assessed by recording the percentage of participants in each arm of the study who fail to remain in the study until the last data collection point. 3. Completeness and adequacy of data collected will be assessed by recording the percentage of each of the measures that are fully completed by study participants. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Caregiver-child interaction measured using structured coding of a 10-minute free-play interaction at baseline and 4-month follow up 2. Caregiver distress measured by the distress thermometer at baseline and 4-month follow-up 3. Caregiver empowerment measured by the Family Empowerment Scale at baseline and 4-month follow-up 4. Child behavior and emotional problems and global impairment measured by the Strengths & Difficulties Questionnaire at baseline and 4-month follow up 5. Child language abilities by the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventories at baseline and 4-month follow up | — |
Countries
Canada
Outcome results
None listed