Understanding Occupational Therapy for Children with Autism
Characterizing Occupational Therapy Intervention for Children With Autism Spectrum
This study is testing how occupational therapy helps children with autism improve their attention and sensory processing over several weeks.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Ages | 6 Years to 13 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Ohio State University Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Columbus, Ohio and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT05480605 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This pilot study investigates how occupational therapy impacts sensory processing and attention in children with autism spectrum disorders. It focuses on measuring behavioral and neural responses, particularly through electroencephalography (EEG), to assess the effectiveness of therapy sessions. Over 6-8 weeks, 30 children aged 6-13 will participate in weekly therapy sessions, with the study aiming to establish the role of child engagement as a predictor of therapeutic outcomes. The findings could provide insights into the neural mechanisms underlying occupational therapy interventions.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates include children aged 6-13 with a medical diagnosis of autism who are verbal and have normal or corrected vision/hearing.
Not a fit: Patients with a history of severe neurological disorders, major visual impairments, or chronic medical conditions may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance the effectiveness of occupational therapy for children with autism by identifying key factors that improve engagement and outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: While occupational therapy is widely used, this specific approach examining EEG measures in relation to therapy engagement is novel and has not been extensively tested in previous studies.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: For children with autism: * a medical diagnosis of Autism * between 8 - 13 years * must be verbal * have normal or corrected vision/hearing * enrollment in the 8-week OT treatment plan with a therapist enrolled in the study. For typically developing children: • No history of neurological injuries, disabilities, and family history of mental health disorders on parent report Exclusion Criteria: * history of a definitive neurologic disorder including seizures (except for uncomplicated brief febrile seizures), tumor, severe head injury, stroke, lesion, or disease * presence of a severe chronic medical disorder * presence of a major visual impairment * history of alcohol/substance abuse or dependency.
Where this trial is running
Columbus, Ohio and 1 other locations
- Nationwide Children's Hospital — Columbus, Ohio, United States (Recruiting)
- McCampbell Hall — Columbus, Ohio, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jewel Crasta, PhD., OTR/L — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Jewel Crasta, PhD., OTR/L
- Email: neurolab@osumc.edu
- Phone: 6146850819
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.