Helping autistic teens have smoother, more natural conversations
Ready to CONNECT: Conversation and Language in Autistic Teens
This project uses video and in-person conversations plus computer analysis to find which speech and interaction habits help 12–15‑year‑old autistic teens connect with others.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Storrs NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Storrs-Mansfield, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11161178 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join others aged 12–15 with autism who have age‑appropriate language test scores to take part in recorded video chats and some in‑person conversations. Researchers will collect standard language tests and natural conversations, then use computer learning methods to look at things like pronoun use, back‑channeling, turn‑taking, and sound or word patterns. They will compare conversations between autistic teens and autistic partners and between autistic and neurotypical partners to see which interaction patterns lead to smoother communication. The goal is to build profiles of conversational strengths and challenges from real-life talk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Autistic adolescents aged 12–15 who score within the expected range on standard language measures but still struggle in everyday conversations are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Younger or older teens, non‑autistic people, or autistic teens with significant language impairments (below age‑appropriate language scores) are not the target group and may not benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to practical communication strategies and tools that help autistic teens engage more comfortably and successfully in everyday conversations.
How similar studies have performed: Smaller conversation‑analysis studies support the idea of neurotype differences, but applying large‑scale machine learning to hundreds of recorded teen conversations is a newer, less‑tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Storrs-Mansfield, United States
- University of Connecticut Storrs — Storrs-Mansfield, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Eigsti, Inge-Marie — University of Connecticut Storrs
- Study coordinator: Eigsti, Inge-Marie
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.