Testing a mobile coaching program for toddlers with autism
Official title: 3/3-Effectiveness Trial of the Early Social Interaction (ESI) Model using Mobile Technology for Toddlers with Autism Identified from Early Screening in Primary Care
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-10668446 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how well a virtual coaching program can help toddlers with autism connect and communicate better, and it’s for families with young children who are showing early signs of autism.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | July 16, 2021 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $351,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH127120-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10668446 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are toddlers aged 18 months to 30 months who have been identified with early signs of autism.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than 30 months or do not show early signs of autism may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effectiveness of a virtual early intervention program called Early Social Interaction Mobile Coaching (ESI-MC) for toddlers diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Families will participate in telehealth sessions that provide coaching and feedback to help integrate intervention strategies into daily activities. The study will recruit 240 children showing early signs of autism and assess their social communication and engagement over time, comparing outcomes based on when they start the intervention. The goal is to determine if earlier intervention leads to better developmental outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a scalable and effective intervention model that improves social communication skills in toddlers with autism.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using telehealth and mobile technology for early interventions in autism, indicating that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lord, Catherine — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Lord, Catherine
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Early autism screening in primary care to help kids get diagnosed sooner
This grant tests how to reliably screen for autism during routine pediatric check-ups to help children get diagnosed earlier and access intervention sooner.
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Optimizing autism diagnosis training for primary care
Aiming to help primary care providers diagnose autism more accurately and quickly so more children get support without long waits.
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PEP Talk for Parents: Helping Young Children With Autism Access Early Education and School Services
A program helps pediatricians talk with families of very young children with autism to speed up access to early intervention and school-based services.
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Earlier autism detection during 18- and 24-month pediatric check-ups
This project tests ways to make autism screening at 18- and 24-month pediatric visits find signs earlier so toddlers can get help sooner.
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Improving early detection of autism in young children during check-ups
This study is looking at ways to make autism screenings during kids' check-ups better, especially for children aged 0-11, so that all kids, including those from less represented and lower-income families, can get the help they need as early as possible.
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Using mobile technology to help toddlers with autism improve social interactions
This study is looking at how a virtual coaching program can help toddlers with autism by teaching their families ways to support their development in everyday life, and it aims to find out if starting this support earlier makes a difference for the kids.
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.