NCT04166591

Brief Summary

The goal of this research is to explore abilities to learn word meanings from overheard conversations in children with ASD (and, as a control, typically developing children). Specific Aim 1 (Experiment 1): Subaim 1a: Identify child characteristics associated with learning from overhearing. In a prior study, the investigators found that 13 children with ASD were able to learn the meanings of novel words that they heard used in a conversation involving two adults. In the current study, the investigators aim to study a larger sample to identify what child characteristics are associated with good learning in an overhearing situation as compared to a situation in which the child is directly taught the new word. Subaim 1b: Assess retention and generalization of words learned from overhearing. The investigators will re-test children on their knowledge of the word meanings after a 10-minute delay to see if they both retain the word meanings and can generalize the new words to new situations.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
342

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Jan 2021

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

2 active sites

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

October 31, 2019

Completed
18 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

November 18, 2019

Completed
1.1 years until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

January 5, 2021

Completed
3.9 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

December 1, 2024

Completed
4 days until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

December 5, 2024

Completed
4 months until next milestone

Results Posted

Study results publicly available

March 20, 2025

Completed
Last Updated

April 4, 2025

Status Verified

November 1, 2024

Enrollment Period

3.9 years

First QC Date

October 31, 2019

Results QC Date

January 6, 2025

Last Update Submit

March 19, 2025

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Number of Children Who Select the Target Object as Measured by Gaze Preference.

    Children are prompted to identify the object that is associated with the target word.

    immediately after viewing 3-minute interaction

  • Number of Children Who Select the Target Object as Measured by Gaze Preference.

    Children are prompted to identify the object that is associated with the target word.

    5 minutes after viewing interaction

Study Arms (2)

Addressed

EXPERIMENTAL

Children participate in an interaction with an experimenter who uses the word to be learned.

Behavioral: Addressed Speech

Overheard

EXPERIMENTAL

Children observe while an experimenter uses the word to be learned in an interaction with another experimenter.

Behavioral: Overheard Speech

Interventions

New words are introduced with the child as an observer rather directly taught.

Overheard

New words are introduced directly to the child by an experimenter.

Addressed

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Months - 71 Months
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsChild (0-17)

You may qualify if:

  • children with or without a diagnosis of ASD between 18 to 71 months of age

You may not qualify if:

  • native language is not English
  • born premature (\< 36 weeks)
  • has uncorrected hearing or vision impairments
  • has developmental disorders or medical conditions other than ASD that affect language or cognition (excepting psychiatric conditions often comorbid with ASD such as ADHD)
  • has a history of photosensitive epileptic seizures

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (2)

Emerson College

Boston, Massachusetts, 02116, United States

Location

New York University

New York, New York, 10012, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Child Development Disorders, PervasiveNeurodevelopmental DisordersMental Disorders

Results Point of Contact

Title
Dr. Sudha Arunachalam
Organization
New York University

Publication Agreements

PI is Sponsor Employee
No
Restrictive Agreement
No

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
NON RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
BASIC SCIENCE
Intervention Model
CROSSOVER
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

October 31, 2019

First Posted

November 18, 2019

Study Start

January 5, 2021

Primary Completion

December 1, 2024

Study Completion

December 5, 2024

Last Updated

April 4, 2025

Results First Posted

March 20, 2025

Record last verified: 2024-11

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations