Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 5 to 10

Using sound to improve cognitive function and sensory sensitivity in youth with developmental disorders

Official title: FX ENTRAIN: Perturbation of Neurodynamics Underlying Sensory Hyperarousal and Statistical Learning in Youth With FXS

Run by Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati · NCT06227780 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing if listening to special sounds can help improve thinking skills and reduce sensitivity to noise in children with Fragile X Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages5 Years to 10 Years
SexAll
Enrollment180 (estimated)
SponsorChildren's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Cincinnati, Ohio)
StatusRecruiting
StartedMay 24, 2023
Main results expectedMay 24, 2027
Study endsMay 24, 2028
Registry record updatedMarch 30, 2026
Trial IDNCT06227780 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates for this study are children aged 5-10 years with a confirmed diagnosis of Fragile X Syndrome or Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Probably not a fit

Patients with auditory or visual impairments that cannot be corrected may not benefit from this study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This study investigates the effects of alpha auditory entrainment on cognitive enhancement and sensory hypersensitivity in children aged 5-10 with Fragile X Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder. The researchers hypothesize that auditory entrainment can normalize brain activity patterns that are altered in these conditions, potentially improving cognitive functioning and reducing sensory sensitivity. The study will involve measuring brain activity through EEG while participants listen to specially designed sounds. The approach aims to address the underlying neurodynamics that contribute to cognitive and sensory challenges in these youth.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could lead to improved cognitive abilities and reduced sensory sensitivities in children with developmental disorders.

How similar studies have gone: While there have been studies exploring auditory entrainment, this specific approach targeting neurodevelopmental disorders is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* FXS Cohort: 1) Aged 5-10 years, inclusive; 2) Patient has full FMR1 mutation confirmed by genetic testing.
* ASD Cohort: 1) Aged 5-10 years, inclusive; 2) Have no known genetic mutation; 3) Have documentation of ASD diagnosis; 4) Score ≤ 15 on SCQ screen; 5) Be in good health per investigator.
* TDC Cohort: 1) Aged 5-10 years, inclusive; 2) Have no known genetic mutation; 3) Have documentation of ASD diagnosis; 4) Score ≤ 15 on SCQ screen; 5) Be in good health per investigator; 6) Patient has met normal developmental milestones; Patient has no family history of heritable neuropsychiatric disorders; 7) Patient has an IQ greater than 85 on the Stanford-Binet; 8) Score ≤8 on an SCQ screen.

Exclusion Criteria:

* All subjects: 1) Patient has auditory or visual impairments that cannot be corrected; 2) History of substance abuse or dependence within the past 6 months

Where it's running

  • Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
    Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    Recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Ernest V Pedapati, MD — Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati
  • Study coordinator: Jae Citarella
  • Email: Jae.Citarella@cchmc.org
  • Phone: 513-636-0875

Similar studies

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How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.