AUTISM

This study provides intensive, play-based therapy for children with motor impairments from conditions like cerebral palsy, autism, or brain injury. The therapy involves up to 6 hours a day of guided practice to improve use of weaker arms and hands. Researchers will analyze data f…

This study tests whether adding a stem cell product (AdiaVita) to standard glutathione therapy can improve autism symptoms in children ages 3 to 12. About 100 kids will be randomly assigned to get either glutathione alone or glutathione plus monthly stem cell infusions for three …

This study looks at whether the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), a therapy for young autistic children, works when used by community agencies. Researchers will work with 300 children ages 1-5 and their providers to see if the program improves language and daily living skills. The…

This study is testing a device called SenseToKnow that uses video recordings and a caregiver survey to help detect autism in children aged 16 to 36 months. The goal is to see how accurate the device is compared to a doctor's diagnosis. About 350 children from Duke Health will tak…

This study tests whether a simple, non-invasive eye-tracking tool can help identify autism risk in children aged 12 to 48 months. Researchers will compare eye-tracking results with standard clinical diagnoses. The goal is to see if this quick test can aid early detection.

This study aims to see if a portable eye-tracking device can accurately screen 9-month-old infants for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental delays. Researchers will test over 2,000 babies and follow them until age 2 to confirm diagnoses. If successful, this tool…

This study will test whether a special brain scan called magnetoencephalography (MEG) can help doctors better diagnose children with conditions like epilepsy, autism, ADHD, and brain tumors. Researchers will compare MEG signals from 1500 children with these disorders to signals f…

This study tests a virtual program that teaches parents how to help their autistic children with insistence on sameness behaviors, like needing routines or getting upset over small changes. The program is based on an existing anxiety treatment adapted for this purpose. Researcher…

This study explores whether nature- and activity-based group programs can improve the mental health, self-confidence, and daily functioning of 240 children and youth with ADHD, autism, or Tourette's syndrome in Norway. Participants will take part in a 12-week outdoor program in s…

This study tests an online training program for parents of 120 toddlers (16-48 months) who are waiting for an autism diagnosis. The program teaches parents evidence-based strategies to help their child's development during the wait. Researchers will compare children whose parents…

This study tests whether a daily postbiotic supplement (PostbiotiX Comfort®) can improve gut and behavioral symptoms in 90 children aged 3-8 with autism. Researchers will check stomach issues, sleep, and behavior before and after one month of treatment. The goal is to see if impr…

This study tests two group programs for autistic middle-schoolers (ages 11-14) who have trouble with social skills or organization. One program focuses on social skills, the other on planning and study skills. 224 children will be randomly assigned to one of the programs. The goa…

This study looks at whether Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) works better when done at a center or at home for young children with autism who have trouble speaking. About 120 children aged 2 to 5 will take part for 16 weeks. The goal is to see which setting helps them communicate…

This study tests whether suvorexant, a sleep medication, can help children and teens with autism sleep better. About 26 participants aged 13 to 17 will receive either the drug or a placebo, then switch after a period. The goal is to see if the drug improves how quickly they fall …

This study tests whether high-dose vitamin B6 supplements can reduce anxiety and sensory overreactivity in autistic adults. Researchers will compare a group taking vitamin B6 to a group taking a placebo. The study involves 40 autistic adults aged 18 to 60.

This study looks at whether esomeprazole, a drug usually used for heartburn, can help improve social communication in young children with autism. Researchers will give the drug to 25 children aged 2 to 6 for 12 weeks and measure changes in social behavior using standard questionn…

This study looks at how sensory sensitivities affect sleep and emotions in autistic children ages 6 to 10. Researchers will test a special bedtime routine designed to lower arousal levels in children who are overly sensitive to touch, sound, or other sensations. The goal is to se…

This study tests whether zolpidem, a sleep medication, can improve sleep in children and teens with autism. About 26 participants aged 8–17 will receive both the drug and a placebo at different times to compare effects. The goal is to see if the drug helps them fall asleep faster…

This study tests a new therapy called TUNE In for adults with autism who struggle with social situations. The therapy helps with social motivation, anxiety, and reading social cues. Researchers will compare the therapy to usual care in 40 adults to see if it improves social funct…

This study tests a digital coaching program for autistic young adults (ages 18-35) to improve mental health, quality of life, and personal goal achievement. Participants use a smartphone app with virtual coaches for 10 weeks. The goal is to see if this affordable, scalable tool c…

This study tests whether a special technique called the 'mutual gaze procedure' helps improve social communication, language, and daily living skills in young Hispanic autistic children (18-42 months old) from low-income families. Two versions of a culturally adapted early interv…

This study tests a 12-month education and health coaching program for parents of 12 children (ages 3-7) newly diagnosed with autism. The program focuses on lifestyle changes and environmental tweaks to help reduce autism symptoms. Researchers will measure changes in behavior, com…

This study tests whether a cannabis oil containing CBD, terpenes, and a tiny amount of THC can reduce challenging behaviors and social difficulties in children with autism. About 78 kids aged 4 to 12 will take either the oil or a placebo daily for two months, then all may receive…

This study is testing whether a Spanish-language program called Unstuck and On Target can help children ages 8-11 with autism or ADHD improve their executive functioning skills, like planning and flexibility. About 40 Spanish-speaking families will either join the program right a…

This study explores whether guided breathing exercises can lower stress and improve heart rate variability in autistic young adults aged 16 to 25. Researchers will measure changes in heart activity and ask participants about their experience. The goal is to find a simple, drug-fr…

This study looks at whether Adderall XR (a common ADHD medication) can reduce ADHD symptoms in children and teens with autism who have normal language skills. About 196 participants will receive either the drug or a placebo for 4 weeks. Researchers will also use brain scans to se…

This study tests whether a parent-led technique called 'mutual gaze' can improve social communication and daily skills in toddlers (16-30 months) showing early signs of autism. About 80 children from diverse backgrounds will receive 12 sessions of a parent training program, with …

About 30% of autistic children barely speak even after years of therapy. This study tests a new approach that uses specific responses and encouragement to help children aged 2 to 5 who use few or no words. The goal is to increase both the number and quality of sounds and words th…

This study looks at the best way to combine two parent-led therapies for young children (18-48 months) with autism. One therapy focuses on improving social communication, the other on reducing disruptive behaviors. Researchers want to see which order works best and why. 184 famil…

This study tests whether a 6-week online magic trick training program can help adolescents with autism improve their social and emotional skills. Researchers will measure changes in social knowledge, self-esteem, loneliness, and friendship quality. The goal is to see if learning …

This study compares telehealth parent coaching to in-person coaching for improving social-communication skills in toddlers with autism or social communication delays. About 188 children aged 18-33 months and their parents will participate. The goal is to see if online coaching wo…

This study tests whether diphenhydramine, a common allergy medicine that makes people sleepy, can improve sleep in children and teens with autism. About 26 participants aged 8 to 17 will receive either the medicine or a placebo for several weeks, then switch. Researchers will mea…

This study tests whether virtual reality (VR) can help children with autism learn to recognize and understand emotions. Thirty children aged 7 to 10 will either use an Oculus VR headset or traditional methods to practice identifying feelings. The goal is to see if VR makes emotio…

This study compares two ways to help children aged 6-14 with autism who struggle with emotions like anxiety and irritability. Half of the therapists get weekly online expert coaching on a special therapy (CBT), while the other half use usual care plus self-guided materials. The g…

This study looks at whether using 'parentese' (the sing-song way adults talk to babies) helps autistic toddlers learn new words. Researchers will show children videos or talk to them live, and track where they look to see if they understand the words. The goal is to understand wh…

This study looks at whether brain scans can help predict which young children with autism will improve the most with Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT), a behavioral therapy that targets language skills. About 36 children aged 2 to 4 years will be randomly assigned to receive PRT r…

This study is testing a program called CRUSH, which is designed to teach autistic adults about relationships and sexual health. The program includes group sessions and one-on-one coaching. Researchers want to see if the program is practical, well-liked, and shows early signs of h…

This study aims to understand how people with autism experience senses like touch, sound, and sight differently across their lives. Researchers will use brain scans and questionnaires to link these sensory differences to social challenges, such as avoiding eye contact or feeling …

This study tests a training program designed to improve thinking and emotional control in children aged 6-12 with ADHD, dyslexia, or autism. 288 primary school students will be randomly assigned to receive the training or join a waitlist. Researchers will measure changes in memor…

This study tests whether a therapy called Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), adapted for autistic youth, works well in community mental health centers. Researchers will enroll 24 autistic children (ages 6-18) and their therapists to see if the therapy is accept…

This study looks at how autism affects motor functions like muscle strength, balance, and coordination in adults aged 18 to 45. Researchers will also test whether a 6-week virtual reality training program can help improve these skills. The goal is to better understand the link be…

This study uses a virtual reality system to precisely measure balance in 50 children with autism, ages 6 to 10. Researchers want to see how balance problems relate to thinking and learning abilities. The goal is to better understand these challenges, not to test a treatment.

This study is testing a remote training program that teaches thinking strategies to autistic teens (ages 13-21) and their primary caregiver together. The goal is to see if the program is easy to use and helpful for improving daily life skills. About 24 pairs will participate, and…

This study pairs autistic adults (ages 18-36) with a non-autistic learning partner, like a parent. The autistic adult takes emotional intelligence training, while the partner learns autism accommodation skills. Both then evaluate how the training affected themselves and their par…

This study looks at how a brain region called the cerebellum influences social abilities and executive functions (like planning and flexibility) in young adults with and without autism. Researchers will use a non-invasive brain stimulation technique and brain scans to measure cha…

This study tests a smartphone app called Footsteps that helps school aides record and track behaviors of children aged 4-17 with conditions like autism, ADHD, or oppositional defiant disorder. The goal is to see if the app improves the quality of data collected and leads to bette…

This study screens up to 5,000 people, including healthy volunteers and those at risk for conditions like autism or psychiatric disorders. The goal is to evaluate participants through interviews, cognitive tests, and other assessments to better understand these conditions. It doe…

This study looks at four biological markers (biomarkers) in 25 children aged 3 to 6 who have both autism and an anxiety disorder. The goal is to see if these markers can help predict how well a child might respond to treatment and measure any changes over time. Parents will fill …

This study checks if a new test called the Five Digits Test (FDT) works well for measuring a thinking skill called 'inhibition' in people with ADHD or autism. About 150 adults will take the FDT and other standard tests to see if the results match up. The goal is to provide a simp…

This study compares two training models for early intervention providers in Georgia to see which helps them better deliver Project ImPACT, an autism therapy for children under 3 with communication delays. About 80 providers and families will take part. The goal is to improve how …

This study tests whether an online training course can teach parents of children with autism (ages 2 to 5) how to use Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) at home. PRT is a play-based therapy that aims to improve communication and social skills. Researchers will watch videos of paren…