Can parents boost autism therapy at home? small study investigates

NCT ID NCT03020927

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Ohio State University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study looked at whether teaching parents to use Reciprocal Imitation Training (RIT) at home helps young children with autism improve their imitation and social skills more than therapist-only sessions. Eighteen children aged 2 to 5 years participated. The goal was to see if adding a parent education component leads to better outcomes for the child and less stress for parents.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Reciprocal Imitation Training (behavioral intervention)
What this could lead to: If successful, this could show that training parents to use imitation therapy at home improves social skills in young children with autism more than therapist-only sessions.
What could go wrong: This is a very small, early study with only 18 children, so results may not apply to everyone. It tests a behavioral approach, not a medical treatment, so benefits may be modest.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

autism spectrum disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

Contacts and locations

Locations

The Ohio State University

Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States

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