Autistic Disorder Autism Spectrum Disorder
Conditions
Interventions
This is a two-arm randomized controlled clinical trial, with blinding of the evaluators and statistician. An experimental, longitudinal and prospective study will be carried out, in which 63 children
For ethical reasons, participants in the control group will be invited to participate in the intervention after completion of the research, if evidence of effectiveness is observed. The allocation of
however, the evaluators responsible for applying the Communication Assessment in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ACOTEA) instrument, as well as those responsible for filling out the evaluation instruments a
Sponsors
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco
Eligibility
Age
2 Years to 5 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: Aged between 2 and 4 years and 11 months; medical diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD); classified as non-speaking or minimally speaking based on speech-language screening and functional language use criteria; availability of at least one legal guardian to accompany the intervention and participate in family guidance sessions; signature of the Informed Consent Form by the guardian
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: Children with a co-occurring diagnosis of moderate or severe intellectual disability (ID); hearing or visual impairment; uncontrolled epilepsy or epilepsy under active medical investigation; motor speech disorders (such as childhood apraxia of speech) diagnosed by a speech-language pathologist or neurologist; diagnosis of cerebral palsy or other neuromotor syndromes significantly limiting the manipulation of AAC resources; current use of AAC systems with a structured vocabulary similar to the one proposed in the intervention; simultaneous participation in other structured language or communication interventions with a similar focus
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| It is expected to find an improvement in the communicative performance of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder after intervention with the Development of Communication Skills in Autism (DHACA®) method, verified through the Communication Assessment in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ACOTEA). Variations will be observed in the scores obtained between the pre- and post-intervention moments, considering as a parameter the identification of statistically and clinically significant differences in intra- and intergroup measurements, with an increase in scores in the intervention group compared to the control group. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| It is expected to identify changes in aspects associated with the global development of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder after intervention with the Development of Communication Skills in Autism (DHACA®) method, verified through the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist. Variations will be observed in the scores for the Speech, Language and Communication domains; Sociability; Sensory and Cognitive Perception; and Health, Physical Aspects and Behavior, between the pre- and post-intervention moments, considering as a parameter the reduction in total scores and by domain in the intervention group compared to the control group. To describe the communicative profile of non-speaking or minimally speaking children with ASD before and after intervention with the DHACA® method, in the study group and in the control group. Compare the effects of the intervention with the DHACA® method on the communication skills of children with ASD between the study and control groups. | — |
Countries
BR
Contacts
Public ContactIvana Xavier
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco
Outcome results
None listed