Brain Mechanisms for Language Processing in Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder

NCT02700074 | Completed DMC

• 2 other identifiers: 3077EP50DC013027
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 88
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The main goal of our study is to find out why some people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) do not develop verbal abilities or remain minimally-verbal throughout adolescence and adulthood. Current research focuses on investigating brain differences related to processing sounds and initiating speech in adolescents and young adults with ASD varying in language skills, compared to adolescents who do not have ASD, in order to clarify whether atypical processes of auditory perception, perceptual organization and/or neural oscillation patterns may explain why some individuals with ASD fail to acquire functional speech.

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorders

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (15)

• Autism Spectrum Diagnosis

  Interview

  5 years

• Adaptive Behaviors

  Interview

  5 years

• Cognitive Abilities

  Interview

  5 years

• Language Abilities

  Interview and Questionnaire

  5 years

• Social Behavior

  Interview

  5 years

• Repetitive Behavior

  Questionnaire

  5 years

• Sensory Behavior

  Questionnaire

  5 years

• Atypical Behavior

  Questionnaire

  5 years

• Psychopathology

  Questionnaire

  5 years

• Emotion Regulation

  Questionnaire

  5 years

• Handedness

  Questionnaire

  5 years

• Brain measures of structural and functional connectivity in key nodes of the speech production network

  In particular between the supplementary motor area (SMA) and ventral premotor cortex (vPMC), a set of nodes in the speech network that is critical for the initiation of speech motor programs. High resolution MRI brain scans collected from adolescents with ASD who vary in their language ability from minimally verbal to normal (and a typical control group). Measures of structural anatomical connectivity based on Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) data and functional connectivity based on resting state functional connectivity MRI.

  5 years

• Electrophysiological measures and neural oscillatory patterns of the perception, organization and analysis of auditory scenes.

  Physiological parameter

  5 years

• Indices of social attention deployment measured by unobtrusively recording participants' eye-movements during the passive viewing of brief realistic video-clips.

  Physiological parameter

  5 years

• Indices of electrodermal activity (EDA) measured wirelessly with the Q sensor (a small wearable device designed to work in real-world environments in an untethered, unobtrusive way).

  Physiological parameter

  5 years

Study Arms (4)

Minimally Verbal

Minimally verbal adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Other: No Intervention

Verbal Impaired

Language impaired adolescents with ASD

Other: No Intervention

Verbal Normal

Language normal adolescents with ASD

Other: No Intervention

Typically Developing

Typically developing adolescent controls

Other: No Intervention

Interventions

No Intervention OTHER

Intervention is not a part of this study.

Minimally Verbal; Typically Developing; Verbal Impaired; Verbal Normal

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 14 Years - 21 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Community sample

You may qualify if:

• Between the ages of 14 and 21
• Minimally verbal (which is defined as having fewer than 10 words/phrases used communicatively during the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) assessment
• Demonstrated minimal progress in speech acquisition despite having participated in speech therapy for at least 18 months
• Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Verbal but language impaired (defined as more than 1.25 standard deviation below the mean on the clinical evaluation of language fundamentals - Fourth edition (CELF-4))
• Has normal language scores (on the CELF-4)
• Is typically developing with no history of psychiatric or neurological disorders

You may not qualify if:

• Has contraindications to having a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan (e.g. electronic/ferromagnetic implant, clips, stents, existing or planned major dental work)
• Has a history of significant neurological diseases
• Has a history of sensory impairment (e.g., hearing impairment)
• Has a history of disorders other than ASD
• Is currently taking antipsychotic medications.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD): collaborator
• Boston University Charles River Campus: lead
• National Institutes of Health (NIH): collaborator
• Massachusetts General Hospital: collaborator
• Northeastern University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Tager-Flusberg H, Kasari C. Minimally verbal school-aged children with autism spectrum disorder: the neglected end of the spectrum. Autism Res. 2013 Dec;6(6):468-78. doi: 10.1002/aur.1329. Epub 2013 Oct 7.

  PMID: 24124067 BACKGROUND

Related Links

• This is the website for our center.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Helen Tager-Flusberg, PhD

  Boston University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 24, 2016
• First Posted: March 7, 2016
• Study Start: February 1, 2015
• Primary Completion: May 31, 2019
• Study Completion: August 30, 2019
• Last Updated: January 27, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)