Study 1 Replication and Extension of Prior Work

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The goal of this research is to explore abilities to learn word meanings from overheard conversations in children with ASD (and, as a control, typically developing children). Specific Aim 1 (Experiment 1): Subaim 1a: Identify child characteristics associated with learning from overhearing. In a prior study, the investigators found that 13 children with ASD were able to learn the meanings of novel words that they heard used in a conversation involving two adults. In the current study, the investigators aim to study a larger sample to identify what child characteristics are associated with good learning in an overhearing situation as compared to a situation in which the child is directly taught the new word. Subaim 1b: Assess retention and generalization of words learned from overhearing. The investigators will re-test children on their knowledge of the word meanings after a 10-minute delay to see if they both retain the word meanings and can generalize the new words to new situations.

Official Title
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Learning New Words From Overhearing in Children With ASD

Conditions
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Autism Spectrum Disorder

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Overheard Speech
* Behavioral: Addressed Speech


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: children with or without a diagnosis of ASD between 18 to 71 months of age Exclusion Criteria: native language is not English born premature (< 36 weeks) has uncorrected hearing or vision impairments has developmental disorders or medical conditions other than ASD that affect language or cognition (excepting psychiatric conditions often comorbid with ASD such as ADHD) has a history of photosensitive epileptic seizures

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Months
Maximum Age: 71 Months

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Addressed<br>Children participate in an interaction with an experimenter who uses the word to be learned. | Behavioral: Addressed Speech<br>* New words are introduced directly to the child by an experimenter.<br>|
| Experimental: Overheard<br>Children are present in the room while an experimenter uses the word to be learned in an interaction with another experimenter. | Behavioral: Overheard Speech<br>* New words are introduced with the child as a bystander rather directly taught.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Number of children who select the target object by touching, pointing, or grasping on each trial | Children are prompted to identify the object that is associated with the target word. The first object they touch, point, or grasp after the prompt is noted. If this is the target object, the child receives a score of 1 for that trial. | immediately after intervention | 
| Number of children who select the target object by touching, pointing, or grasping | Children are prompted to identify the object that is associated with the target word. The first object they touch, point, or grasp after the prompt is noted. If this is the target object, the child receives a score of 1 for that trial. | after 5 minutes |