Sequencing parent-led communication and behavior programs for young children with autism
Optimizing Outcomes through Sequencing Parent-Mediated Interventions for Young Children with Autism
This project compares different orders of two parent-led programs—one teaching communication skills and one reducing disruptive behavior—to find the best approach for young children with autism and their families.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11159766 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You and your child would learn practical skills parents can use at home: one program focuses on helping your child communicate, and the other focuses on reducing disruptive behaviors. Families will be randomly assigned to different sequences of these parent-led programs and may be re-randomized based on how things are going, using an adaptive trial design. The team will track children’s social communication, behavior, and parent use of strategies over time to see which order works best for which families. Researchers will also look for parent or child characteristics that predict who benefits most from each sequence.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are young children with autism spectrum disorder who have social communication delays and/or disruptive behaviors, together with a parent or caregiver willing to learn and use the intervention strategies.
Not a fit: This project may not help older adolescents or adults with autism, families unable to participate in parent-led sessions, or children without social communication or disruptive behavior concerns.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help families know which order of parent-led programs is most likely to improve communication and reduce behavior problems, making therapy more efficient and less burdensome.
How similar studies have performed: Both Project ImPACT and parent training for disruptive behavior have shown benefits on their own, but using a sequential, adaptive approach to optimize their order is novel.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Roberts, Megan Y — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Roberts, Megan Y
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.