Rural Autistic Individuals - Supporting Expression

NCT07054866 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2022-73
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This research study investigates how hand gestures can support language comprehension and communication skills of hearing speaking, non-speaking, and/or minimally verbal individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), who are especially disadvantaged by the lack of accessible services in their rural communities. Individuals with other cognitive profiles, including Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), ADHD, Dyslexia, and others are welcome too. The study uses methods of eye tracking and recording of brain activity to understand how hand gestures adapted from signs from American Sign Language, such as \[cry\], can promote successful understanding of words like "cry". The overarching goal is to help families effectively utilize gestures to support communication with their children.

Conditions

Autism Disorder; Language Development Disorders; ADHD; Typical Development; Rural Health; Children; Neuroimaging; Eye Tracking; EEG; fNIRS

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• EEG/ERP brain response

  In a pretest-test-postest set up, the researchers measure participants' EEG/ERP (electroencephalography/event related potentials) signals in microvolts first prior to exposure to gestures, just with visual animations and auditory words; then the investigators expose participants to visual gestures with auditory words; and finally participants are exposed to animations and auditory words again, to see if gestures contributed to any changes in EEG/ERP.

  from Enrollment to completion of study protocol within 3 months

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• fNIRS brain response

  from enrollment to completion of protocol within 3 months

Study Arms (1)

Language Evaluation

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Speech-Gesture combinations

Interventions

Speech-Gesture combinations BEHAVIORAL

this is a pretest, test, posttest evaluation of language comprehension with and without gestures, to see if gestures can improve language comprehension

Language Evaluation

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 2 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Confirmed (preferably) or suspected diagnosis of ASD (autism spectrum disorder), or a receptive language impairment (i.e., difficulties with comprehension, Developmental Language Disorder), or both. Additional diagnoses, including ADHD (Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder), are acceptable. Siblings and cousins of these individuals are also welcome.
• OR 1.2 No diagnoses of ASD or DLD for unrelated control typically-developing participants.
• \. Normal hearing and normal vision (or corrected to normal with glasses or contacts).
• \. Ages 2+. 4. English as the dominant language of caregivers. 5. Caregivers who self-identify as living in a rural area. 6. The ability to verbally or physically respond is optional.

You may not qualify if:

• \. Poor hearing. 2. Inborn or acquired brain damage.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Montana State University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Montana State University

Bozeman, Montana, 59717, United States

RECRUITING

Related Publications (2)

• Poplin, M., Ma, J., Aviles Zuniga, T., Modyanova, N., Johnson, E., McCrory, B. (March 2025). Using Electroencephalography to Understand Learning Engagement with User-Centered Human-Computer Interaction in a Multimodal Online Learning Environment. Annual Conference of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE).

  BACKGROUND

• Modyanova, N.N., Bolton, A. P., Storrusten, C., & McCrory, B. (2024). Improving Language Comprehension via Hand Gestures in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and/or Language Impairment in Rural Montana. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care, 13(1), 191-196. https://doi.org/10.1177/2327857924131012

  BACKGROUND

Related Links

• Biomedical Innovation for Research and Development Hub supports the implementation of this study

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Autistic Disorder; Language Development Disorders; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Autism Spectrum Disorder; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders; Language Disorders; Communication Disorders; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders

Central Study Contacts

Nadya N Modyanova, Ph.D.

CONTACT

406-848-1535; language-research@montana.edu

Bernadette McCrory, Ph.D.

CONTACT

406-994-2801; bernadette.mccrory@montana.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Research Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 27, 2025
• First Posted: July 8, 2025
• Study Start: July 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2027
• Last Updated: July 10, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, ANALYTIC CODE
• Time Frame: 6 months after peer-reviewed publications from this study are made public
• Access Criteria: appropriate data use agreements will need to be put in place

Locations

US (1)