Melillo Method for kids with behavior and learning challenges
Official title: The Effects of the Melillo Method® on Biopsychosocial Outcomes in School-Age Children: A Pilot Randomized Delayed-Start Trial
Run by Life University · NCT07779889 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This pilot test will see if the Melillo Method can be feasibly delivered in two Illinois schools to help kids aged 8 and up who have behavioral and learning difficulties.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 8 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 34 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Life University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Roodhouse, Illinois) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 14, 2026 |
| Main results expected | May 2027 |
| Study ends | May 2027 |
| Registry record updated | September 22, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07779889 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Children aged 8 years or older who attend Roodhouse Elementary or North Greene Jr. High School and have SDQ-P Total Difficulties ≥17 and Total Impact ≥2.
✕Probably not a fit
Children with epilepsy, or a diagnosis of oppositional defiance or conduct disorder, or who have impairments preventing standard assessments or therapy, may not benefit from this approach.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This pilot randomized study examines a school-based brain-training program called the Melillo Method in elementary and middle school students with social and neurodevelopmental challenges. About 34 participants will be enrolled and randomly assigned to start the program immediately or after a 12-week delay, allowing both groups to receive the intervention while enabling comparison of early versus later start outcomes. The program combines sensory stimulation, rhythm-based activities, reflex integration, and other components designed to improve attention, behavior, and learning. The trial uses a delayed-start design to account for maturation and natural changes over time in a real-world school setting. Outcomes will be measured using teacher and family reports and standardized assessments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the Melillo Method could offer a structured school-based approach to improving behavior and learning in children with neurodevelopmental and social behavior challenges.
How similar studies have gone: This specific randomized, school-based application of the Melillo Method is novel; prior evidence is limited to clinical observations and non-randomized settings.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 8+ years old * Attends Roodhouse Elementary or North Greene Jr. High School * Screening SDQ-P Total Difficulties Score ≥17 and Total Impact Score ≥2 Exclusion Criteria: * History of Epilepsy * Diagnosis of Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) or Conduct Disorder (CD) * Impairments that preclude standardized administration of the assessments and/or therapy (e.g., uncorrected visual or hearing loss, paralysis of the arms or legs)
Where it's running
-
North Greene School District
Roodhouse, Illinois, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Tyson Perez — Life University
- Study coordinator: Associate Vice President of Research
- Email: research.studies@life.edu
- Phone: 678-331-4527
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Understanding brain development in congenital hypothyroidism: comparing affected children, healthy controls, and mild thyroid conditions
This study tests how brain development in children with congenital hypothyroidism compares to similar children without the condition and to kids with a mild thyroid finding.
-
Leopard: using multi-omics to boost genetic diagnosis for neurodevelopmental disorders
This study tests a multi-omics approach to find genetic explanations for neurodevelopmental disorders in people with moderate-to-severe intellectual disability.
-
Understanding how sensory brain signals vary in people with and without neurodevelopmental disorders
This study tests whether people with neurodevelopmental disorders show more variation in brain responses to sensory stimulation than people without these disorders.
-
Two-week intensive brain-focused therapy program for children with neurodevelopmental and chromosomal conditions
This program will try a two-week, individualized multimodal neurorehabilitation approach for children about 4–12 years old with neurodevelopmental or chromosomal conditions to see if it improves attention, motor skills, communication, and daily functioning.
-
Social cognition testing for 8–16-year-olds with autism, ADHD, or atypical development
This project will test a multidimensional social-cognition battery in French-speaking 8–16-year-olds with autism, ADHD, or atypical neurodevelopment to see if it better identifies social processing differences.
-
Virtual reality to boost neuroplasticity in children and adolescents
This project will try immersive virtual reality rehabilitation to improve attention, motor skills, social interaction, and quality of life in children and teens aged 8–18 with ADHD, autism, or cerebral palsy.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.