Brain scans may predict autism therapy success in toddlers

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Spectrum Disorder (ASD) based on clinical interview and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th edition (DSM-5) and confirmed using the Autism Diagnostic Interview Revised (ADI-R) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and/or Brief Observation of Symptoms of Autism (BOSA) and/or Childhood Autism Rating Scale- Second Edition (CARS-2). * Outpatients between 2.0 and 4.11 years of age of either gender, * Children of all cognitive levels will be included as long as they are able to participate in the testing procedures to the extent that valid standard scores can be obtained * Language delay as measured by the Preschool Language Scale, 5th Edition (PLS-5) \[at least 1 standard deviation behind for children age 2 and 3 years; and 2 standard deviations behind for children age 4\], * Stable psychotropic medication(s) or biomedical intervention(s) for at least 1 month prior to baseline measurements with no anticipated changes during study participation, * Stable treatment \[Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Floortime, or other interventions\], speech therapy, and school placement for at least 1 month prior to baseline measurements with no expected changes during study participation, * No more than 60 minutes of 1:1 speech therapy per week, * The child's exposure to the English language must be sufficient that administration of standardized tests in English is appropriate for measuring progress, * The availability of at least one parent who can consistently participate in the training sessions and related activities, and * Successful completion of baseline brain scan. Exclusion Criteria: * Current or life-time diagnosis of severe psychiatric disorder (e.g., bipolar disorder), * Genetic abnormality (e.g., Fragile X) * Presence of active medical problem (e.g., unstable seizure disorder), * Receiving more than 15 hours of in home 1:1 Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) per week * Magnetic Resonance (MR) contraindication (e.g., the presence of ferrous metal), or * Previous adequate Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) trial.