Parentese Speech for Autism

Overseen By Pumpki L. Su, PhD

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: The University of Texas at Dallas

Disqualifiers: Visual impairment, Hearing impairment, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

100 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether "parentese" speech can help autistic children learn new words. Parentese is a slower, more musical way of speaking, similar to how adults naturally talk to babies. Participants will experience this speech style through both video and live interactions to determine if it aids word learning better than regular adult speech. Children aged 18 to 59 months who hear English at least 90% of the time and do not have other language-affecting conditions are suitable candidates for this trial. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to explore innovative communication methods that could enhance language development in autistic children.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What prior data suggests that Parentese Speech is safe for autistic children?

Research on parent-mediated interventions, such as Parentese Speech, shows no evidence of harm or adverse effects. Parentese involves speaking to children in a singsong voice with clear pronunciation. Studies have shown that using parentese can aid speech development in both autistic and non-autistic children. Reports indicate no negative side effects from this method, making it a safe option for enhancing communication. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Parentese Speech technique for autism because it focuses on enhancing language learning through a more engaging and child-directed form of communication. Unlike traditional methods that may rely on structured therapies or adult speech patterns, Parentese uses a sing-song, exaggerated style of speaking that naturally captures a child's attention. This method is particularly promising as it may help children with autism learn new words more effectively by making language interactions more interactive and engaging. Additionally, the technique can be easily incorporated into everyday interactions, providing a practical and accessible approach for parents and caregivers.

What evidence suggests that Parentese Speech might be an effective treatment for autism?

This trial will compare the effects of "parentese," a sing-song way of talking, with an adult register on language learning in autistic children. Research has shown that parentese can aid language learning, as studies have found that babies are more likely to make speech-like sounds after hearing adults use parentese. This suggests that parentese might help autistic children learn new words by capturing their attention and encouraging speech. Additionally, toddlers with autism often focus on "motherese," which is similar to parentese, indicating it could support their language development. Overall, these findings suggest that parentese could help autistic children learn words more effectively. ^{1 5 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Pumpki L. Su, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Texas at Dallas

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for children with Autism or related neurodevelopmental disorders. It aims to see if a special way of speaking called 'parentese' helps them learn new words. Children must have a diagnosis of autism to join.

Inclusion Criteria

My child is between 18 and 59 months old, with or without autism.

Exclusion Criteria

Hears another language more than 10% of the time based on parent report

Has developmental disorders or medical conditions other than ASD that affect language or cognition (excepting psychiatric conditions often comorbid with ASD such as ADHD)

I have vision or hearing problems that haven't been corrected.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Video-based Word Learning

Participants engage in a video-based word learning paradigm to determine the effect of recorded parentese on novel word learning

4 weeks

Weekly sessions (virtual)

Live Interaction Word Learning

Participants engage in live interaction sessions to determine the effect of live parentese on novel word learning

4 weeks

Weekly sessions (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for word learning accuracy and response to auditory input

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Parentese Speech

Trial Overview The study tests whether parentese speech, either from videos (Aim 1) or live interaction (Aim 2), can help autistic children learn new words better than regular adult speech.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Parentese Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

All participants will learn novel words in two conditions (parentese vs adult register) in each of the experiment (video and live word learning). In the Parentese condition, participants will listen to sentences that contain novel words in parentese.

Group II: Adult Register Active Control 1 Intervention

All participants will learn novel words in two conditions (parentese vs adult register) in each of the experiment (video and live word learning). In the Adult Register condition, participants will listen to sentences that contain novel words in adult register speech.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

The University of Texas at Dallas

Lead Sponsor

Trials

71

Recruited

108,000+

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

Collaborator

Trials

377

Recruited

190,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Melodic based communication therapy (MBCT) showed significant early progress in verbal attempts and correct words in nonverbal children with autism compared to traditional speech therapy, with notable improvements in the first four weeks.

Both therapies were effective, but MBCT led to more imitative attempts and a significant increase in new words used at home, suggesting it may enhance communication skills in children with autism.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A pilot study on the efficacy of melodic based communication therapy for eliciting speech in nonverbal children with autism. Sandiford, GA., Mainess, KJ., Daher, NS.[2021]

A home-based intervention program led to significant improvements in the verbal interactions between autistic children and their parents, particularly through the use of language-eliciting techniques by mothers.

In contrast, parents in the control group showed minimal changes in their communication style, highlighting the effectiveness of the intervention in enhancing children's socialized language skills.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mothers' speech to autistic children: a preliminary causal analysis. Howlin, P., Rutter, M.[2019]

Parent-mediated interventions (PMIs) for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) showed a small but clinically relevant improvement in parent-rated adaptive functioning, although the evidence is of low certainty based on a review of 30 randomized controlled trials involving 1,934 participants.

PMIs may help reduce disruptive behavior in children with ASD, with a moderate certainty of evidence indicating a significant effect, but no clear benefits were found for clinician-rated core symptoms or parental well-being.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parent-Mediated Interventions for Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Conrad, CE., Rimestad, ML., Rohde, JF., et al.[2021]

A 6-month social communication intervention for 61 children with autism aged 5-8, which included parent training, showed that parents mastered about 70% of the strategies taught, indicating effective training.

Children's social engagement improved in relation to how well parents implemented the strategies, suggesting that parent involvement is crucial for enhancing communication skills in children with autism.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parents' Adoption of Social Communication Intervention Strategies: Families Including Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Who are Minimally Verbal. Shire, SY., Goods, K., Shih, W., et al.[2023]

A study involving 26 mother-child pairs showed that specific instruction sessions for mothers, conducted alongside their children's language therapy, positively impacted the children's communication skills.

All participants demonstrated progress in at least one area of communication, highlighting the effectiveness of targeted support for mothers in enhancing their children's interactive abilities.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Orientation to mothers of children of the autistic spectrum about language and communication. Fernandes, FD., Amato, CA., Balestro, JI., et al.[2019]

The FAUT-E parent training program significantly improved children's behavior, as evidenced by a medium effect size on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist after the intervention and at a follow-up three months later, indicating its efficacy in managing behaviors associated with autism spectrum disorder.

The training was easy to implement and did not increase parental stress, suggesting it is a safe and practical option for parents of children newly diagnosed with ASD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pre-Post Effects of the Psychoeducational, Autism-Specific Parent Training FAUT-E. Medda, JE., Kitzerow, J., Schlitt, S., et al.[2021]

In a study involving 88 parent-child dyads, it was found that while both mothers and fathers communicate effectively with their autistic children, mothers tend to provide more informative statements and call the child's attention more frequently than fathers.

Fathers, on the other hand, focus more on the child's internal states, suggesting a complementary communication style that supports a balanced approach to child development between parents.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Language of mothers and fathers in interaction with their autistic children. Perzolli, S., Bentenuto, A., de Falco, S., et al.[2023]

A study involving 653 toddlers found that those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) showed a wide range of attention to motherese speech, with some displaying as low as 0% fixation, unlike typically developing toddlers who averaged around 80%.

Using a cutoff of 30% or less fixation on motherese speech, the study demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy for ASD, with a specificity of 98% and a positive predictive value of 94%, suggesting that attention to motherese could be a valuable tool for early diagnosis and intervention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Level of Attention to Motherese Speech as an Early Marker of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Pierce, K., Wen, TH., Zahiri, J., et al.[2023]

Parents of toddlers with autism and developmental delays provided fewer verbal responses that promote language development, such as expansions and follow-in directives, compared to parents of typically developing children, indicating a potential area for intervention.

The study found that parental use of language-promoting strategies significantly predicted better language outcomes for children, highlighting the importance of responsive communication in early language development.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Verbal Responsiveness in Parents of Toddlers With and Without Autism During a Home Observation. Delehanty, A., Hooker, JL., Wetherby, AM.[2023]

Out of 1,231 studies evaluated, only 36 included a parent education component aimed at improving expressive verbal communication in nonverbal or minimally verbal children with autism spectrum disorder, highlighting a significant gap in research.

The review found considerable variability in the design and implementation of parent education programs, with unclear descriptions and few studies measuring how well parents implemented the interventions, suggesting a need for more standardized approaches in future research.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parent Education in Studies With Nonverbal and Minimally Verbal Participants With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review. Koegel, LK., Bryan, KM., Su, PL., et al.[2021]

A systematic review of 25 studies involving 804 parent-toddler dyads found a significant relationship between parents' verbal responsiveness (PVR) and the vocal communication abilities of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing children, indicating that responsive parenting is crucial for language development.

Interventions aimed at increasing PVR in parents of children with or at risk for ASD were effective in enhancing parental responsiveness, although they did not significantly improve the children's communication skills, suggesting a need for further research on how to better support child communication development.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The relation between parent verbal responsiveness and child communication in young children with or at risk for autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Edmunds, SR., Kover, ST., Stone, WL.[2020]

Caregiver speech is crucial for the language development of young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as studies show that rich and responsive communication from caregivers supports this growth.

The article emphasizes the need for personalized approaches in parent-mediated interventions, suggesting that adapting these strategies to individual differences among parents can enhance their effectiveness in supporting child development.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The role of caregiver speech in supporting language development in infants and toddlers with autism spectrum disorder. Swanson, MR.[2021]

Mothers of children with autism use a similar number of content words as mothers of typically developing children, but their speech includes more concrete nouns and active verbs, while abstract nouns and adjectives are used less frequently.

This study highlights the need for parents and professionals to vary their language use when communicating with children with autism to support their language development.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Content Words in Child-Directed Speech of Mothers Toward Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Tubul-Lavy, G., Jokel, A., Leon-Attia, O., et al.[2021]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9909502/

Level of Attention to Motherese Speech as an Early Marker ... This diagnostic study investigates whether attention to high-affect motherese speech can be used as a diagnostic marker of autism spectrum disorder.

2. onlinelibrary.wiley.com onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/infa.70022

Parentese Elicits Infant Speech‐Like Vocalizations in ... Findings revealed that infants were more likely to produce a speech-like vocalization following an adult utterance directed to them in parentese ...

3. news-medical.net news-medical.net/news/20230213/Attention-to-motherese-speech-is-a-promising-early-diagnostic-marker-for-autism-spectrum-disorder.aspx

Attention to motherese speech is a promising early ... Toddlers with autism spectrum disorder showed almost uniform attention to motherese. In contrast, toddlers with autism spectrum disorder had a ...

4. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-autism-spectrum-disorder-9-2024-9398b

Parentese Speech for Autism Melodic based communication therapy (MBCT) showed significant early progress in verbal attempts and correct words in nonverbal children with autism compared to ...

5. juniperpublishers.com juniperpublishers.com/pbsij/PBSIJ.MS.ID.555983.php

Parentese Speech and Vocal Imitations on the ... Our aim is to compare the findings of two studies that used contingent reinforcements in the form of: (a) parentese speech and, (b) vocal ...

6. health.ucsd.edu health.ucsd.edu/news/press-releases/2022-01-03-when-mom-talks-are-infants-with-asd-listening/

When Mom Talks, Are Infants with ASD Listening? An early sign of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children is a reduced response to motherese speech and challenges in sustained attention to ...

7. cnn.com cnn.com/2020/02/03/health/baby-talk-boosts-infant-brain-wellness

'Parentese,' not traditional baby talk, boosts a ... In 2018, Kuhl and Ferjan Ramirez published a study that showed when parents were coached in parentese, their babies babbled more and had more ...

8. news.utdallas.edu news.utdallas.edu/health-medicine/parentese-infant-vocalization-autism-2025/

Study: Baby Talk Boosts Infant Vocalization in Autistic Children In other words, when adults speak in parentese, both autistic and neurotypical children are more likely to produce a speechlike vocalization ...