Improving Academic and Social Functioning in Middle-Schoolers With Autism

This study is testing two group programs for middle-schoolers (ages 10-15) with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who do not have an intellectual disability. One program, called Achieving Independence and Mastery in School (AIMS), helps with organization, planning, and study skills. The other, Building Essential Social Skills for Teens (BESST), focuses on improving social skills. You would be randomly assigned to one of these programs. Researchers will measure changes in executive functioning (skills like planning and organizing), homework problems, and academic performance after 8 weeks of treatment to see how well the programs work. The study is currently unclear on its recruitment status and aims to enroll 224 participants.

Study design
This is an interventional study where participants will be randomly assigned to one of two group interventions. It plans to enroll 224 participants.
What's involved
Participants will attend one of two group interventions for 8 weeks. Measurements will be taken from enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants are followed from enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks.

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

NCT06705907

Improving Academic and Social Functioning in Middle-Schoolers With Autism

Recruiting
NAAges 10–15InterventionalTreatment
Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati
~224 participants
Updated 2026-03-17 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Achieving Independence and Mastery in School (AIMS)Building Essential Social Skills for Teens (BESST)

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning, 2nd Edition
Measured over From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks.
+2 more outcomes measured
Autism
Autism Spectrum Disorder

NCT06705907

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.

  • Cincinnati Children's Hospital

    Cincinnati, Ohiostudy 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.

  • Leanne Tamm, Ph.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati
  • Amie Duncan, Ph.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Diagnosis of autism
No intellectual disability
Problems with organization, materials management, and planning and prioritization
Problems with social skills
Fully included in middle school
Stable medication and behavioral treatment regime

Exclusion

Home schooled
Severe co-occurring psychopathology (e.g., aggression, suicidal)
Non English-speaking
  • Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning, 2nd EditionFrom enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks.

    The BRIEF-2 assesses real-world EF behaviors in the home and school environments. The T-scores range from 30:99 with higher scores being worse.

  • Homework Problems ChecklistFrom enrollment to end of treatment at 8 weeks.

    The HPC assesses Homework Completion and Homework Management. Scores for Homework Completion range from 0 to 36 and for Homework Management from 0 to 21. Lower scores are better.

  • Academic Performance Rating ScaleFrom enrollment to end of treatment at 8 weeks.

    The teacher-completed APRS assesses how well the adolescent is performing academically with 3 subscales (Academic Success, Academic Productivity, and Impulse Control). The two scores to be used in the current study include the Academic Success score which ranges from 7 to 35, while the Academic Productivity score ranges from 12 to 60. Higher scores are better.