View clinical trials related to Autism.
Filter by:Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), according to the diagnostic criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders- V Edition (DSM-5), is a disorder involving (a) persistent deficits in social communication, social interaction and (b) patterns of restricted and stereotyped behavior and/or interests and/or activities. Specifically, impairment in social interaction manifests itself in different areas of individual functioning and through various facets: social-emotional reciprocity, poor understanding of social rules, reduced sharing of interests, emotions or feelings, reduced or absent theory of mind, inability to initiate or respond to social interactions (turn-taking in conversation), and difficulties in the use of communication. Facial expressions, vocal intonation, postures and gestures are crucial components of non-verbal communication that play a fundamental role in social-communicative functions. However, people with ASD may show significant deficits in these forms of expression, negatively affecting the ability to generate an appropriate social response, which is essential for initiating and maintaining social interactions. Children with ASD tend to avoid eye contact with others and show little or no interest in people, often looking past them or away from them. This behavior contributes to presenting them as "markedly aloof and distant". The aim of the study is to explore the effect of specific expressive tasks, conducted by highly qualified personnel, in a group setting, by means of targeted theatrical activities. These activities include exercises focusing on the use of voice and posture, the variety of vocal intonations and the harmonization between verbal production and facial expressiveness. In the context of this study, 20 children will be involved, divided into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group will include 10 children with ASD who voluntarily participate in activities organized by the IRIB-CNR of Messina. These children, aged between 6 and 11 years, present a medium-high level of cognitive functioning, as assessed by the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children- IV Edition (WISC-IV) cognitive test. In parallel, the control group will consist of 10 normo-typical children, selected from the Istituto Comprensivo San Francesco di Paola of Messina, having the same age group, who will not participate in the experimental activities.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a condition characterized by deficits in social communication and mutual interaction, as well as repetitive and restricted behaviors and interests. This condition manifests itself differently in each individual and can vary greatly in severity and impact on daily life. Autistic children may present various challenges and difficulties in developing daily living skills (DLS). These difficulties may relate to various areas, such as personal autonomy and domestic autonomy. For example, they may have difficulties in acquiring personal hygiene skills, such as dressing and tying their shoes independently. They may have difficulty performing household tasks, such as setting the table, preparing a simple meal, or folding a t-shirt. These difficulties may require specific support and training to help autistic children develop personal autonomy skills and achieve greater independence in different areas of their daily lives. Improving and developing DLS is an important goal in order to improve the quality of life and independence of children with autistic conditions. This protocol aims to acquire new useful DLS within the various settings of daily life. The hypothesis of the present study is the following: video modeling, through the use of the iPad (Qr code scanning), can be more effective in promoting autonomy in children with ASD, compared to a control group that receives a traditional training, without the use of technological instrumentation.
The aim of this study is to examine the effect of vestibular and proprioceptive exercise practices on the hyperactivity level in children with autism spectrum disorder.
Purposes: Establish proof-of-concept for home polysomnography in the assessment of sleep disorders among prepubertal school children with autism and intellectual disabilities combined; To explore the diagnostic yield of polysomnography for these individuals; To examine the feasibility and treatment effect of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for insomnia, focusing on sleep maintenance difficulties, in these children. Method: Single-case experimental design with multiple baselines and with multiple participants, with a focus on feasibility. N=15 prepubertal children, aged 6-12 years, with autism and intellectual disabilities combined, and difficulties in maintaining nighttime sleep. Assessment with home polysomnography + actigraphy. Intervention with ABA, including functional analysis, measurable goals, and behavior modification based on the functional analysis. Outcome measures from actigraphy and sleep diary with multiple data points at baseline and after treatment. Feasibility is examined as adherence to assessment and treatment, as well as in a qualitative study of parental experiences.
The goal of this pilot intervention study is to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a novel bedtime manipulation protocol called "The Power Down" for autistic youth, ages 6-10. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Is the Power Down feasible for caregivers to do each night? 2. Do the families find the Power Down an acceptable intervention to address their child's difficulties settling down to fall asleep?
The purpose of this open label trial is to examine the preliminary effectiveness of a 12-week behavioral intervention program (1 hour/week) to treat insistence on sameness (e.g., difficulty tolerating changes in routine) in youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Treatment will be delivered via secure telemedicine platform and consist of a combination of parent-training and child-focused intervention.
Cluster randomised controlled trial with two arms: arts intervention (any of the arts interventions, see list), which we call here Active Group (AG) vs waitlist control (WL).
Advanced social relations protocol is aimed at young people with autism aged 9-12 years with an intelligence quotient (IQ) ≥ 80. There will be an experimental group in which technology will be used and a control group in which activities will be carried out in the traditional way. The protocol will be carried out once a week for a duration of 45 minutes. The aim is to enhance communication and social skills within the group. A total of 23 sessions are planned. From the first to the third session the participants will acquire skills for communicating and conversing in an appropriate way. Thereafter from the fourth to the eleventh session social stories illustrating scenes from everyday life will be shown, with the aim of learning and managing the dynamics in which they find themselves on a daily basis. At the end of each story shown they will be asked to impersonate the protagonists depicted in the stories, each participant involved in turn will play all the roles shown in the stories, thus working in the mode of role playing. The last part, which includes sessions from the twelfth to the twenty-third, will be dedicated to the correct and conscious use of social networks with a focus on the risks that can be encountered and the correct ways to make good use of them.
Community mobility is critical for living independently and engaging in one's community. It is especially important for people in their early adult years, as this is often a time of transition to employment and living independently. Community mobility can be particularly challenging for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) (henceforth referred to as autistic adults based on the preferred identity-first language of our autistic partners). Some autistic adults are unable to meet the demands of driving. Public transportation is an option for autistic adults; and autistic adults are more likely to use public transportation than their non-autistic counterparts. However, using public transportation may be just as challenging as driving for the autistic population. Rideshare (also called ride-hailing) is a relatively new form of transportation in which passengers get from point A to point B in private vehicles driven by their owners. A digital app, usually accessed on a smartphone, matches passengers and drivers, coordinates routes using a GPS system, and facilitates payment through a linked financial account. Rideshare has the potential to address many of the issues autistic adults have accessing the community. It is faster and more direct than the public train or bus, there is limited social interaction required, and rides can be scheduled at any time. Despite it's potential to increase transportation in autistic adults, there are no evidence-based training programs to support Rideshare use in this population.
The goal of this clinical trial is to examine how helpful and relevant the Family Care Project workbook is for families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who have a young child at autism likelihood. The main questions this trial aims to answer are: - Is the Family Care Project workbook useful for families? - Is the Family Care Project workbook easy to use? - Can the Family Care Project be implemented by non-profit workers who do not have health backgrounds? Participants will complete surveys that elicit their feedback on their use of the workbook.