Understanding how caregivers perceive infant cries to identify early signs of autism
Official title: Caregiver Cry Perception and Developmental Trajectories of Infant-Caregiver Interactions Involving Cry as an Early Marker of Autism
Funded at University of Missouri-Columbia · NIH-11176686 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how parents and caregivers understand and react to their babies' cries to see if certain sounds might help spot early signs of autism, with the goal of improving support for children who may be at risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Missouri-Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $74,284 |
| NIH project number | 5F32MH134481-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11176686 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include caregivers of infants aged 1 month to 1 year who may exhibit early signs of autism or developmental delays.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than 1 year or those who do not have concerns about autism or developmental delays may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how caregivers perceive the cries of infants and how these perceptions may relate to early signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). By analyzing the acoustic features of infant cries, the study aims to identify specific characteristics that may indicate a risk for autism. The research will involve caregivers recalling their experiences with their infants' cries and examining how these perceptions correlate with later developmental outcomes. This approach seeks to enhance early screening and intervention strategies for children at risk of ASD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to earlier identification and intervention for children at risk of autism, improving long-term developmental outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that cry characteristics can serve as early markers for autism, suggesting that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Andres, Erin Marie — University of Missouri-Columbia
- Study coordinator: Andres, Erin Marie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
-
Understanding how Latino caregivers engage with early autism services
This project looks at how Latino families engage with early intervention services for children with autism to improve access and quality of care.
-
Autism Caregiver Coaching in Africa
A Duke University-led project helps parents and non-specialist workers in South Africa use caregiver-supported autism strategies to help young children with autism.
-
Caregiver coaching in South Africa to support young autistic children
This project trains local early-childhood workers to coach caregivers so they can help autistic children (around 0–11 years) build communication, behavior, and daily-living skills.
-
Helping Latino caregivers get the most from early autism services
This project works with Latino families of very young children with autism to strengthen caregiver involvement and improve the quality of early intervention services.
-
Caregiver coaching for young autistic children in South Africa
This project trains local early childhood workers to coach families so young autistic children in South Africa get practical, culturally adapted support at home.
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.