Online Pivotal Response Treatment training for parents of young children with autism
Randomized Controlled Trial of an Online Pivotal Response Treatment Training in Autism Spectrum Disorder
This program will test whether an online Pivotal Response Treatment course can teach English-speaking parents to deliver PRT effectively to children with autism ages 2 to 5.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 44 (estimated) |
| Ages | 2 Years to 5 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Stanford University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Stanford, California) |
| Trial ID | NCT06523387 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Parents complete an online Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT-O) course designed to teach PRT strategies for improving young children's communication. Children must be aged 2:0–5:11 with a confirmed or suspected autism diagnosis and measurable adaptive communication deficits. Outcomes focus on whether parents learn to deliver PRT correctly and on related child communication measures, using standardized tools such as the Vineland and diagnostic review (e.g., ADI-R). The program is run through Stanford University with English-language participation required and some coordination for assessments.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are children aged 2:0–5:11 with a confirmed or suspected ASD diagnosis, significant adaptive communication deficits, and an English-speaking parent who can consistently participate and deliver treatment, with any psychotropic or biomedical interventions stable for at least one month.
Not a fit: Children outside the 2–5 age range, families without an English-speaking parent who can participate consistently, or cases with severe co-occurring medical issues may not benefit from this online parent-training approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this online training could let more parents learn PRT skills at home, increasing access to evidence-based coaching and potentially improving children's communication.
How similar studies have performed: Parent-mediated PRT and other parent-training approaches have shown benefits in prior research, but fully online PRT courses are less well-studied though early digital parent-coaching studies show promise.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 2:0 to 5:11 years at the time of consent, * diagnosed with ASD (based on history, review of available medical records including diagnostic testing, e.g., Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule) or suspicion of Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis, and confirmed with Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R), * with significant adaptive communication deficits (i.e., either a Vineland-3 Communication subscale 2 Standard Deviations below average for 2 and 3 year olds and 3 Standard Deviations below for 4 and 5 year olds or a Vineland-3 Expressive V-scale Score 2 Standard Deviations below average for 2 and 3 year olds, or 3 Standard Deviations below for 4 and 5 year old, and at least moderate severity on the Clinical Global Impressions Severity (CGI-S) language subscale), * an English-speaking parent able to consistently participate in study procedures and conduct treatment in English, * stable psychotropic medication(s) or biomedical intervention(s) for at least 1 month prior to baseline measurements with no anticipated changes during study participation, * stable treatment (ABA, Floortime, or other interventions), speech therapy, and school placement for at least 1 month prior to baseline measurements with no expected changes during study participation, * no more than 60 minutes of 1:1 speech therapy per week Exclusion Criteria: * Children who have a primary language other than English * parent or child diagnosed with severe psychiatric disorder or unstable medical problem * previous adequate trial of pivotal response treatment resulting in parent meeting Pivotal Response Treatment fidelity of implementation at baseline * Receiving more than 15 hours of in home 1:1 ABA per week
Where this trial is running
Stanford, California
- Stanford University — Stanford, California, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Grace Gengoux, PhD — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Estefania Millan, MA
- Email: autismdd@stanford.edu
- Phone: (650) 736-1235
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.