Optimizing Interventions for Young Autistic Children

This study aims to find the best way to combine two parent-led interventions for young children with autism: Project ImPACT (Improving Parents as Communication Teachers) for social communication and Parent Training for Disruptive Behavior. Researchers want to see how different combinations and frequencies of these behavioral interventions impact a child's social communication and disruptive behaviors. You might be able to join if your child is 18 to 48 months old, has an autism diagnosis, and has no other known disabilities. Success will be measured by observing changes in your child's social communication and disruptive behaviors, as well as your reports. The current status of this study is unclear.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 184 participants. It will compare different ways of delivering behavioral interventions.
What's involved
Interventions involve 1-hour sessions with a parent, child, and/or therapist, occurring once or twice a week, or every other week.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your child's progress will be measured between 25-30 weeks after starting the intervention.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT05926687

Optimizing Outcomes for Young Autistic Children

Recruiting
PHASE2Ages 18–48InterventionalTreatment
Northwestern University
~184 participants
Updated 2026-01-29 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Social CommunicationDisruptive BehaviorSocial Communication + Reduce FrequencySocial Communication + Add ToolsDisruptive Behavior + Reduce FrequencyDisruptive Behavior + Add Tools

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Observed Child Social Communication
Measured over Between 25-30 weeks
+4 more outcomes measured
Autism
Autism Spectrum Disorder

NCT05926687

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Northwestern University

    Evanston, Illinoisstudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

Want this trial checked against your situation?

Add a private profile and we'll compare every criterion below against your situation — and tell you which ones are met, uncertain, or excluding.

Check eligibility for this trial ~2 min · HIPAA-protected · delete anytime
Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Child is between 18 and 48 months old
Child scores above the research cutoff for ASD on the TELE-ASD-PEDS
Child has no other known diagnosis or disability at study entry
Child has normal vision
Child is exposed to English at least 50% of the time
Child has a caregiver willing to learn the intervention strategies
Caregiver wants help supporting their child's social communication and behavior regulation
Caregiver understands conversational English well enough to participate in caregiver instruction
  • Observed Child Social CommunicationBetween 25-30 weeks

    The child's observed social communication is measured from a caregiver-child interaction in which the dyad interacts across a variety of daily activities using materials in their home. This interaction will be recorded and coded for the child's social communication using the codebook from the Early Communication Indicator assessment.

  • Observed Child Disruptive BehaviorBetween 25-30 weeks

    The child's disruptive behavior is measured from a caregiver-child interaction in which the dyad interacts across a variety of daily activities using materials in their home. This interaction will be recorded and coded for the child's disruptive behavior using the Disruptive Behavior Diagnostic Observation (DB-DOS) codebook.

  • Caregiver Report of Child Social CommunicationBetween 25-30 weeks

    The caregiver's assessment of the child's social communication is measured from the Developmental Profile 4 (DP-4) Social-Emotional and Communication Scales. This assessment will yield a total raw score ranging from 0 (minimum) to 70 (maximum), with higher scores indicating better outcomes.

  • Caregiver Report of Child Disruptive BehaviorBetween 25-30 weeks

    The caregiver's assessment of the child's disruptive behavior is measured from the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory.

  • Family Life Impairment ScaleBetween 25-30 weeks

    Family life participation outcomes are measured using the Family Life Impairment Scale. The measure's values range from 0 (minimum) to 38 (maximum) with higher scores indicating worse outcomes.