New hope for nonverbal kids with autism: simple play-based therapy boosts speech
NCT ID NCT06875843
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 31, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study tests a new therapy for young children (ages 2-5) with autism who use few or no words. The therapy involves parents or therapists responding to the child's sounds and gently encouraging more vocalizations. Researchers will see if this approach helps children make more sounds and words compared to usual interactions.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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3 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Apr 2025
- Finished
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Jul 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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2 to 5 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Child participants * Inclusion criteria * Diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder * Aged 2 to 5 years old * Use no more than 20 words (spoken, signed, or via augmentative and alternative communication) per parent report * Use of \< 5 different words during a 15-min communication sample * Use of at least one consonant (observed or reported) * Primary language of English * Exclusion criteria * Uncorrected visual or hearing impairment * Evidence of severe motor impairment Caregiver participants • Inclusion criteria * Have a child enrolled in the study (One caregiver per child participant is enrolled.) * Sufficient English skills to complete surveys
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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