Study 2: Learning New Words From Overhearing in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Phase: NA
Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder
Sponsor: New York University

Title: Study 2 Learning New Words from Overhearing in Children with Autism Spectrum 
Disorder (ASD) 
NCT Number: NCT05192109 
Document date: 12/24/2024 

The objective of this study was to see whether autistic and non-autistic children learn new words 
when they are presented via videoconferencing in one of two conditions: as part of speech 
directly addressed to the child (Addressed condition), as part of speech they overhear (Overheard 
condition). Children participated in the experimental task in both conditions (within-subject 
design). The method was a behavioral experiment in which children were exposed to a novel 
word (e.g., “toma”) in the context of one of three objects. The exposure either occurred with the 
experimenter looking directly at the child through the webcam (Addressed condition) or looking 
at another adult (Overheard condition). They were then shown the three objects and given a 
prompt to identify which object is labeled by the novel word (e.g., “where is the toma?”). 
Children’s eye gaze was coded as a measure of which object they preferred to look at after the 
prompt. After a delay of a few minutes, the test was repeated as a measure of retention. 
 
The primary dependent variable reported here is the proportion of time children spend looking at 
the target object in each condition for each of the first test and the retention test. Track loss data 
points (that is, data points on which the child’s gaze could not be ascertained) are removed from 
analysis.  
 
For each of the first test and the retention test, the primary statistical analysis involves asking 
whether children’s preference to look at the target is significantly greater in one condition than 
the other, and/or for one group or the other. Mixed-effects regression analyses are used with the 
proportion—empirical-logit transformed—of target looking as the dependent measure, 
participant as random effect, and condition and group and their interaction as fixed effects. If the 
interaction is significant, post-hoc testing using estimated marginal means is used.