Helping parents support children waiting for an autism diagnosis
Official title: Opt In - Implementation and Evaluation of an Early Intervention Program for Children Waiting to Receive an Autism Diagnosis
Funded at Drexel University · NIH-11046237 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about helping parents of kids who are waiting to find out if they have autism by giving them online training to learn helpful strategies that can support their child's growth and reduce any worries, even before a diagnosis is made.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Drexel University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | January 20, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $621,682 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HD114761-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11046237 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are parents or caregivers of children under 11 years old who are awaiting an autism diagnosis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have already received an autism diagnosis or are over the age of 11 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on providing early intervention resources to parents of children who are waiting for an autism diagnosis. It aims to empower caregivers by offering an online training program called 'Online Parent Training in Early Behavioral Intervention (OPT-In-Early)', which includes modules that teach evidence-based strategies to support their child's development. By addressing developmental concerns early, the program seeks to mitigate the harmful delays often associated with the diagnostic process. The goal is to enhance adaptive behaviors and reduce anxiety in children before they receive a formal diagnosis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the waiting time for effective interventions for children with autism, leading to better developmental outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that early interventions for autism can be beneficial, suggesting that this approach may also yield positive results.
Where this research is happening
-
Drexel University
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vivanti, Giacomo — Drexel University
- Study coordinator: Vivanti, Giacomo
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Neural roots of how autistic adults understand word meaning
A study to understand how adults with autism process word meanings in the brain, aiming to improve language support.
-
Sleep and daily rhythms and brain development in autism
Aiming to understand how sleep problems and daily activity patterns affect brain growth, thinking skills, daily functioning, and autism symptoms in children.
-
Early sensory development and language in infants/toddlers at risk for autism
A family-friendly study exploring how early sensory responses relate to language development in young children who have siblings with autism.
-
Autism Caregiver Coaching in Africa for Young Children
A Duke University-led project in South Africa aims to help young children with autism by training caregivers to deliver proven coaching strategies through non-specialist providers.
-
Autism and Self-regulation: Remote Testing of Heart-Related Signals in Kids
A study to see if remote testing can safely measure how children with autism and disruptive behavior manage emotions and self-control by tracking heart signals and other markers.
-
Understanding brain signals in autism to identify biologically distinct subtypes
This study uses EEG to link how the brain processes sensory information with behavior in young children with autism and related concerns.
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.