Simplified Language for Autism

(PALS Trial)

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Recruiting

Sponsor: Michigan State University

Disqualifiers: Genetic conditions, Cerebral palsy, Brain injury, others

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The long-term study goal is to experimentally evaluate the components (and likely active ingredients) of early language interventions for young children with ASD. The overall objective is to determine how single-word and telegraphic simplification affects real-time language processing and word learning in young children with ASD (relative to full, grammatical utterances). The proposed project will investigate three specific aims: 1) Determine how single-word and telegraphic simplification affects language processing. 2) Determine how single-word and telegraphic simplification affects word learning. 3) Evaluate child characteristics that may moderate the effects of linguistic simplification on language processing and word learning. Aim 1 will test the hypothesis that children with ASD will process full, grammatical utterances faster and more accurately than single-word or telegraphic utterances. Aim 2 will test the hypothesis that full, grammatical utterances will support word learning better than telegraphic or single-word utterances. Aim 3 will test the hypothesis that language and cognitive skills significantly moderate the effects of linguistic simplification on language processing and word learning in young children with ASD.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Simplified Language for Autism?

The pilot study on Expressive Language Sampling (ELS) suggests that parents can effectively learn and administer language tasks at home, which may help improve language skills in children with autism. This indicates that simplified language input, like the treatment in the trial, could be beneficial for enhancing communication in autistic individuals. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How does the treatment 'Simplified Language for Autism' differ from other treatments for autism?

The 'Simplified Language for Autism' treatment is unique because it uses telegraphic simplification, which involves using short, simple phrases to help children with language delays understand and communicate better. This approach is different from other treatments that may focus on more complex language structures or different therapeutic methods. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Research Team

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for young children aged 1-4 who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder or are suspected to have it, confirmed through ADOS-2. They must primarily speak English. Children with genetic conditions like Down syndrome, brain injuries, cerebral palsy, or uncorrected vision/hearing issues cannot participate.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 1 and 4 years old.

Existing or suspected autism spectrum disorder, confirmed through ADOS-2

English as primary language

Exclusion Criteria

Cerebral palsy

I have vision or hearing problems that haven’t been corrected.

Acquired brain injury

Trial Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Experimental Manipulation

Participants are exposed to all utterance types to evaluate language processing and word learning

Varies per task

Multiple sessions (in-person)

Assessment

Gaze location is assessed during Looking-While-Listening tasks and Fast Mapping tasks

Less than 10 minutes per task

Single assessment per task

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for any changes in language processing and word learning post-intervention

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Linguistic simplification (Behavioral Intervention)

Trial Overview The study is testing how simplifying language in different ways affects the ability of young autistic children to process and learn new words. It compares full sentences to single-word and short phrases (telegraphic speech) to see which supports better understanding and learning.

Participant Groups

Group I: Utterance Type Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This study uses a within-participant experimental manipulation. All participants will be exposed to all utterance types (across trials).

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Michigan State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

202

Recruited

687,000+

Doug Gage

Michigan State University

Chief Executive Officer

PhD in Botany from the University of Texas

David Smith

Michigan State University

Chief Medical Officer

MD from Michigan State University

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

Collaborator

Trials

377

Recruited

190,000+

Joshua M. Levy

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

Chief Medical Officer

MD, MPH, MS

Debara L. Tucci

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

Chief Executive Officer since 2019

MD, MS, MBA

Findings from Research

Icono is a new language that uses icons to represent words, making it more intuitive and reader-friendly, especially for individuals with learning difficulties like dyslexia and autism.

The structure of sentences in Icono is visually represented before reading, which can enhance comprehension and speed up writing on digital devices compared to traditional alphabetic languages.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Icono: a universal language that shows what it says. Kramer, P.[2023]

The Minimalist program suggests that the human language system is an optimal solution for connecting sound and meaning, aiming to simplify earlier complex models of language.

Recent research has focused on reducing the number of linguistic levels and deriving syntactic constraints from principles of economy and computational simplicity, highlighting a shift towards a more streamlined understanding of language structure.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The minimalist program in syntax. Lasnik, H.[2019]

References

1. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Using telehealth-delivered procedures to collect a parent-implemented expressive language sampling narrative task in monolingual and bilingual families with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A pilot study. [2023]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Lexical and Morphosyntactic Profiles of Autistic Youth With Minimal or Low Spoken Language Skills. [2023]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Grammaticality judgments in autism: deviance or delay. [2023]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The phenotype and neural correlates of language in autism: an integrative review. [2022]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Construction of graphic symbol utterances by children, teenagers, and adults: the effect of structure and task demands. [2007]

6. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Icono: a universal language that shows what it says. [2023]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The minimalist program in syntax. [2019]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Using Telegraphic Input With Children With Language Delays: A Survey of Speech-Language Pathologists' Practices and Perspectives. [2020]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Quantitative analysis of disfluency in children with autism spectrum disorder or language impairment. [2019]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Speech-Language Pathologists' Ratings of Telegraphic Versus Grammatical Utterances: A Survey Study. [2021]