Speech Treatment for Minimally Verbal Children with Autism

(TxMVASD+CAS Trial)

Overseen By Michael Moody

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: MGH Institute of Health Professions

Disqualifiers: Seizures, Blindness, Deafness, Behavioral challenges, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 15

Duration: 5 weeks

20 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to help minimally verbal children with autism improve their speech using a treatment designed for Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). CAS affects a child's ability to plan the movements needed for speech. The study will test whether this specialized treatment can help children with both autism and CAS develop their speaking abilities. Good candidates for this trial are children who have autism, can repeat at least two syllables, and live in an environment where English is spoken at least half the time. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity for children to potentially enhance their communication skills with specialized treatment.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that this treatment is safe for minimally verbal children with autism?

Research has shown that CAS treatment, which aids in planning speech movements, is generally well-tolerated. Studies on Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) primarily focus on improving speech planning and production, and they have not identified any significant harmful effects.

For children with autism who speak very little and receive CAS treatment, collecting research data can be challenging, but no major safety concerns have been noted. This indicates that the treatment is manageable and does not cause noticeable harm.

Since this trial is in the "Not Applicable" phase, specific safety data might not yet be available. However, the absence of reported harmful effects in similar treatments is a positive sign for safety. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the CAS Treatment for minimally verbal children with autism because it offers a specialized approach tailored to the unique challenges faced by these children. Unlike standard interventions that may not specifically address the needs of minimally verbal individuals, the CAS Treatment is modified to focus on enhancing communication skills in this specific population. This targeted approach has the potential to significantly improve their ability to communicate, which could lead to better social interactions and overall quality of life.

What evidence suggests that this CAS treatment is effective for minimally verbal children with autism?

Research has shown that treating Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) can improve speech in children with autism who speak very little. CAS occurs when the brain struggles to plan mouth movements for speech. One study found that making CAS treatment fun and social helped children with both autism and CAS talk more. Another study, involving several children, demonstrated positive speech improvements after 11–18 sessions of personalized therapy. This trial will evaluate the effectiveness of CAS treatment, specifically modified for minimally verbal children with autism, to enhance their communication abilities. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for minimally verbal children with Autism Spectrum Disorder who can repeat at least 2 syllables and meet the criteria for Childhood Apraxia of Speech. They should not speak more than 20 words or phrases and must be exposed to English at least half the time. Children with poorly controlled seizures, sensory disabilities, or severe behavioral issues cannot participate.

Inclusion Criteria

I have been diagnosed with Childhood Apraxia of Speech.

I can repeat at least two syllables correctly.

You have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Exclusion Criteria

The child has behavior issues that make it difficult for them to take part in the study.

You have difficulty speaking due to being blind or deaf.

English is spoken less than half the time in my home.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive CAS-specific treatment for minimally verbal children with autism, involving 15 one-hour sessions of speech practice in a play-based setting.

5 weeks

15 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for improvements in speech intelligibility and phoneme production after treatment.

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• CAS Treatment for Minimally Verbal Children with Autism

Trial Overview The study tests a speech treatment designed specifically for children with both autism and CAS (a speech movement planning disorder). It aims to see if this tailored therapy helps improve their ability to speak.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: CAS Treatment for MV ASD Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will receive CAS treatment, modified for minimally verbal children with autism

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

MGH Institute of Health Professions

Lead Sponsor

Trials

19

Recruited

2,200+

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05066178

Speech Treatment for Minimally Verbal Children With ASD ... Comorbid Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) may be one factor that limits speech development in some minimally verbal children with autism. CAS is a disorder ...

2. rally.massgeneralbrigham.org rally.massgeneralbrigham.org/study/span_lab_casita

Childhood Apraxia of Speech Intelligibility Treatment in ... This study aims to test whether treatment for CAS, modified to be embedded in a social, play-based context, improves speech production for children with ...

3. pubs.asha.org pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/2020_AJSLP-20-00131

Autism-Centered Therapy for Childhood Apraxia of Speech ... Using a multiple-baseline design within and across participants, three children with co-occurring ASD and CAS received 11–18 treatment sessions. Treatment ...

4. reporter.nih.gov reporter.nih.gov/search/8CjlEG26Y06CZFKsjhDGUA/project-details/10600110

ASSIST: Child Apraxia Speech Treatment Children with CAS often show little or slow progress in standard speech therapy, which has led to recommendations for intensive intervention and calls for ...

5. kidsclubaba.com kidsclubaba.com/speech-apraxia-and-autism/

Speech Apraxia And Autism Among children diagnosed with CAS, approximately 15-20% also meet criteria for autism spectrum disorder. These statistics underscore the ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6988898/

Conducting research with minimally verbal participants with ... Collecting high-quality research data from minimally verbal children and adolescents with ASD is an extremely difficult enterprise.

7. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2673-7272/4/2/18

Minimally Verbal Individuals with Autism Spectrum ... Data extracted included age, gender, race, ASD diagnosis if present, ID and any other psychiatric diagnoses, baseline aggression and self-injury ...

8. pubs.asha.org pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/2024_JSLHR-23-00233

Treatment for Childhood Apraxia of Speech: Past, Present, ... Most CAS interventions target aspects of speech motor planning, with others focusing on language aspects or, more broadly, on communication using augmentative ...

9. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1746068923000445

Osteopathic manipulative treatment for autism spectrum ... OMT was well-tolerated in pediatric patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). · No adverse events/effects were reported in the case series of applying OMT ...