AUTISM

This study is testing whether a quick, non-invasive eye-tracking test can help screen for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental delays in babies as young as 9 months old. Researchers will use a mobile device to measure how infants look at social scenes, then foll…

This study tests whether a simple, non-invasive eye-tracking device can help identify autism risk in children aged 12 to 48 months. Researchers will compare eye movement patterns to standard clinical evaluations. The goal is to find a faster, easier way to detect autism early. Ab…

This study will use a special brain scan called magnetoencephalography (MEG) to see if it can help doctors better diagnose children with conditions like epilepsy, autism, ADHD, and other brain disorders. Researchers will compare MEG signals from 1,500 children with these conditio…

This study is testing a device called SenseToKnow that uses video 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 take part.

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 8 weeks. The goal is to see if the drug improves sleep quality and patte…

This study compares cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to usual care for children aged 6-14 with autism who have emotional dysregulation, such as anxiety or irritability. About 100 children will participate, with their therapists receiving either weekly expert online coaching or …

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

This study tests a virtual program where parents learn techniques to help their autistic children cope with insistence on sameness—the need for routines and resistance to change. Researchers will enroll 30 children ages 6 to 10 and their parents to see if the approach reduces rig…

This study is testing whether esomeprazole, a medicine usually used for heartburn, can 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 question…

This study tests whether a technique called 'mutual gaze' can improve social communication and daily skills in 80 toddlers (16-30 months old) who are at high risk for autism. Families will attend 12 therapy sessions and have three check-ups over several months. The goal is to see…

This study compares two group programs for middle-school children with autism. One program teaches social skills, the other focuses on organization and study habits. 224 kids will be randomly assigned to one of the programs. The goal is to see which approach works better for impr…

This study explores whether nature- and activity-based group programs can improve quality of life, self-esteem, and daily functioning for 240 neurodivergent children and youth (ages not specified) with ADHD, autism, or Tourette's syndrome in Norway. Participants will take part in…

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 VR goggles or traditional methods to practice identifying feelings like happiness, sadness, and guilt. The goal is …

This study tests whether a common ADHD medication (Adderall XR) can reduce ADHD symptoms in children and teens aged 8-18 who also have autism. About 196 participants will receive either the drug or a placebo for 4 weeks, and some will have brain scans to see how the medication af…

This study tests a brief online program called Project Independence for caregivers of autistic youth ages 10 to 14. The program gives caregivers practical tools to help their child become more independent in daily routines like dressing or chores. About 70 caregivers will be rand…

This study tests a training package designed to improve both thinking skills (like memory and focus) 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 immediately or after a wa…

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

This study is testing whether a 6-week virtual magic trick training program can help adolescents with autism improve their social and emotional skills. About 60 teens aged 11 to 18 with a confirmed autism diagnosis will take part. They will learn magic tricks online and researche…

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. About 200 children will receive 16 sessions of a …

This study tests whether a Spanish-language program called Unstuck and On Target helps children ages 8-11 with autism or ADHD improve their planning and flexibility skills. About 40 Spanish-speaking families will either join the program right away or wait. The goal is to see if t…

This study tests a smartphone-based digital coaching program for autistic young adults (ages 18-35) who are working, volunteering, or in school. The program provides personalized support to help improve mental health and achieve personal goals. 38 participants will use the digita…

This study tests whether zolpidem, a sleep medication, can improve sleep in children and teens with autism. About 26 participants aged 8 to 17 will receive either the drug or a placebo for 8 weeks, then switch. Researchers will measure sleep quality using special monitors and sle…

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 believe that fixing gut health may help with autism-related issues. The treatment lasts one month, and changes in …

This study looks at the best way to combine two parent-led therapies for young children with autism. One therapy focuses on improving social communication, and the other on reducing disruptive behaviors. Researchers will compare different sequences of these therapies in 184 child…

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 take the medicine or a placebo in a random order over 8 weeks. Researchers will measure how f…

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 skills. About 40 adults will take part to see if it improves their social functioning.

About 30% of children with autism barely talk or don't talk at all, even after years of therapy. This study tests a new approach that uses playful, responsive interactions to encourage more sounds and words in children aged 2 to 5 who use fewer than 20 words. Researchers will com…

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 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 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 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 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 looks at whether a special way of speaking called 'parentese' (the slow, high-pitched talk often used with babies) helps autistic toddlers learn new words. Researchers will show children videos or interact with them live to see if this speech style improves word learni…

This study is testing a program called CRUSH that teaches autistic adults about dating, relationships, and sexual health. The goal is to see if the program is practical and helpful. Forty participants will attend group sessions and one-on-one coaching, and researchers will measur…

This study tests whether a smartphone app called Footsteps helps aides who work one-on-one with school-aged kids (ages 4-17) with autism, ADHD, or other behavioral challenges collect better data and improve youth mental health. About 200 participants will use either Footsteps or …

This study looks at how autistic people who also have anorexia nervosa differ in brain structure and behavior from autistic people without anorexia. Researchers want to know if those with anorexia use more "masking" (hiding autistic traits to fit in) and how that relates to brain…

This study screens up to 5,000 healthy volunteers and people at risk for conditions like autism or other brain disorders. The goal is to evaluate participants through interviews and cognitive tests to see if they qualify for other research studies at NIH. It does not offer treatm…

This study tests an online program called OPT-In-Early for parents of 120 toddlers (16-48 months) on waitlists for an autism diagnosis. The program teaches parents evidence-based strategies to help their child's development while they wait. Researchers will compare children whose…

This study pairs autistic adults (ages 18-36) with a non-autistic learning partner, like a parent. The autistic adult takes online emotional intelligence training, while the partner learns how to better accommodate autism. Both then rate how well the trainings worked for themselv…

This study is testing whether a therapy called Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), adapted for autistic youth, can work in community mental health centers. Researchers will enroll 24 autistic youth aged 6-18 and their therapists to see if the therapy is acceptab…

This study tests whether an online training course can teach parents of children with autism (ages 2-5) how to use a therapy called Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT). Researchers will watch videos of parents and children at home to see if the training improves how parents deliver …

This study looks at data from children with movement problems caused by conditions like cerebral palsy, autism, or brain injury. The children receive intensive, play-based therapy for several hours a day over weeks. The goal is to understand how well this therapy helps them gain …

This study tests whether the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), a therapy for young autistic children, works well in community programs. Researchers will work with 600 participants, including 300 children ages 1-5 with autism, their families, and staff from community agencies acros…

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 which children will respond well to treatment and measure how much they improve. Parents will fil…

This study looks at how people with autism process senses like touch, sound, and sight, and how this relates to social difficulties. Researchers will use brain scans and questionnaires to understand these patterns. The goal is to better understand autism, not to test a treatment.…

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 aims to find the best way to train early intervention providers to deliver high-quality services to children under 3 with communication delays or autism. Researchers will compare two training models for a program called Project ImPACT, measuring how well therapists lea…

This study tests whether a remote training program can help autistic teens (ages 13-21) and their caregivers learn strategies to plan, organize, and solve problems together. About 24 pairs will participate. The goal is to see if the program is practical and liked by families, and…

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 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 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…