Improving Social Communication in Individuals With ASD Using AI

NCT05987774 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 70604
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 540
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to identify whether researched and commonly used face-to-face interventions can be effectively implemented through artificial intelligence (AI) using an application on the phone or computer. The investigators plan to recruit individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder who demonstrate challenges with social communication. Modules focusing on various difficulties experienced by autistic individuals will provide practice and feedback using voice recognition and feedback. If effective, this intervention can be scaled up to provide cost-effective accessible assistance to individuals, particularly those who do not have access to care or prefer to secure services in the comfort of their own homes.

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Keywords

AI; autism; LLMs; GPT; social skills; autism support; autism spectrum disorder

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Social Communication Sample

  Measured in terms of what percentage of responses (0% - 100%) during the investigators' social conversation sample are answered appropriately for adolescents and adults or number of spoken words for young children. Each of the participants' responses will be evaluated by a MA or PhD-level expert. Social communication samples will be collected via Zoom, recorded and computer transcribed, after which recordings will be erased. An initial sample will be collected at baseline, after four weeks of intervention, and at post-intervention.

  Approximately 5-9 weeks per participant (4 weeks of intervention + pre and post measures + for adolescents and adults 1-month follow-up.)

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Social Validity Scale

  Approximately 5-6 weeks

• Standardized Test of Vocabulary

  Approximately 4-5 weeks per participant

• Checklist of Targeted Vocabulary

  Approximately 4-5 weeks per participant

Study Arms (2)

Intervention Group

EXPERIMENTAL

This group will receive the treatment (AI conversation modules) available through the application.

Device: AI Modules for Improving Social Communication

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

This waitlist control group will not receive treatment until the experimental group completes their intervention.

Interventions

AI Modules for Improving Social Communication DEVICE

The modules will be accessed via a web app. These modules have been developed to provide feedback on specific areas following voice or text input (user preference will be recorded in case this effects the results). The investigators currently have developed AI modules for common social communication challenges exhibited by individuals with ASD. Examples include: Learning First Words, Empathy (general and in the work setting), Asking Relevant Questions, Listen and Respond, Talking the Right Amount, Giving the Right Amount of Personal Information, Tactful Responses, Giving Compliments, and Staying On Topic During Conversation. These are all areas that can be challenging for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. AI modules consist of thousands of total training examples. Participants may access the modules on their phones, tablets, or computers.

Intervention Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 3 Years - 35 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Primary diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
• Age of adolescents and adults: between 11-35 years
• Age of minimally verbal children: between 3-5 years
• Ability to engage in social conversation using full sentences for a 20-minute period (adolescents and adults)
• Verbal communication difficulties in an individual targeted area (e.g., empathy) as measured on the communication sample
• Participants with a co-occuring diagnosis of ADHD, depression, or social anxiety will not be excluded since these are very common in this population and are often related to or a bi-product of difficulties with social communication.

You may not qualify if:

• Non-documented or self-diagnosis of ASD
• At or above 60% correct responding on targeted area of social conversation during conversation probe (adolescents and adults)
• No significant language delay (young children)
• No access to phone or computer for intervention sessions
• Inability to carry on a conversation during the conversation probe
• Apparent intellectual impairment that interferes with the ability to carry on a conversation (e.g., responds only in single words or does not respond to conversation, lack of understanding of questions or content during conversation probe)
• Non-English speaking
• Serious medical or psychiatric issues that may interfere with conversation or the ability to complete the program
• Lack of interest in participating.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Stanford University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Stanford University School of Medicine

Stanford, California, 94305, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder; Autistic Disorder; Social Skills

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders; Social Behavior; Behavior

Central Study Contacts

Lynn K Koegel, PhD

CONTACT

8056899493; lynnk@stanford.edu

Monica Lam, PhD

CONTACT

6502240595; lam@stanford.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Clinical Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 26, 2023
• First Posted: August 14, 2023
• Study Start: October 15, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2050
• Last Updated: August 10, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Locations

US (1)