Robot-Mediated Therapy for Autism
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial explores how a special interactive robot can help children with autism better understand and recognize emotions during social interactions. The robot-mediated intervention involves sessions with the robot, while a control group continues their usual activities without it, to determine any differences in emotional understanding. The trial suits families with children aged 4-8 diagnosed with autism or a related developmental disorder who can communicate verbally at a basic level. Families must be prepared to participate in study activities for about three months. As an unphased trial, this study offers families a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research that could enhance emotional understanding in children with autism.
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 this robot-mediated intervention is safe for children with autism?
Research shows that using robots to help children with autism is safe and well-received. Previous studies have not found any serious side effects. One study noted that robot-assisted therapy improved children's social skills without causing problems. Another study found that combining robot-assisted training with regular therapy was more effective and did not raise safety concerns.
Additionally, research indicates improvements in shared attention and behavior without negative effects. These studies suggest that using robots is safe for children with autism and offers benefits without causing harm.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about robot-mediated therapy for autism because it offers a novel, interactive approach that differs from traditional behavioral therapies. Unlike typical interventions, this method involves a robot that engages directly with children, providing consistent, personalized interactions that can be more engaging for kids on the autism spectrum. This approach could enhance social and emotional learning by using the robot to facilitate one-on-one sessions, potentially leading to more effective and enjoyable therapy experiences. The innovative use of technology in therapy could open new avenues for tailored interventions that address the unique needs of each child.
What evidence suggests that this robot-mediated intervention is effective for autism?
Research has shown that using robots in therapy can help children with autism improve their social skills. In this trial, some participants will receive a Robot-Mediated Intervention, involving one-on-one sessions with a robot to facilitate social interactions. Studies have found that combining robots with traditional therapy proves more effective than traditional therapy alone. Children in these programs often develop better social skills and maintain interest in the activities. Other studies suggest that these programs can positively affect how children understand and interact with emotions. Overall, using robots in therapy appears promising for helping children with autism recognize and understand emotions better.12367
Who Is on the Research Team?
Rebecca Landa, PhD, CCC-SLP
Principal Investigator
Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc.
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for children aged 4 to nearly 9 with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) who can speak enough to do a Module 2 ADOS-2 test. They need a clinical ASD or autism diagnosis and their caregivers must commit to the study duration and testing schedule. Families should primarily speak English at home.Inclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Treatment
Families participate in the robot intervention or receive treatment as usual for 8-14 weeks
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Robot-Mediated Intervention
Trial Overview
The study tests an interactive robot program designed to help kids with ASD understand and recognize emotions better. It involves random assignment of participants into two groups: one using the robot intervention, and another without any new intervention, over an 8-14 week period.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Families assigned to the robot condition will be asked to complete pre-test assessments and post testing as well as to participate in the robot intervention. The intervention will last for a 8-14 week period in which families will bring their child in 2-3 times a week on average for approximately 30 minutes until 24 treatment sessions have been completed. Children will receive one-on-one intervention with an interventionist facilitating the child's interactions with the robot.
Families assigned to the TAU condition will be asked to complete pre-test assessments and approximately 8-14 weeks later return to complete post-test assessments where the social emotions activity will be retested. During the 8-14 weeks between the testing assessments, families in the TAU condition will also receive a weekly email asking about their child's media use.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc.
Lead Sponsor
Aetna, Inc.
Industry Sponsor
Published Research Related to This Trial
Citations
Advancing Robot-Assisted Autism Therapy: A Novel ...
The results show that the autistic children from the sample documented improved performance across sessions and manifested sustained interest ...
The use of social robots with children and young people on ...
Robot-mediated interventions show promise in supporting the development of children on the autism spectrum.
Effectiveness of a Robot-Assisted Psychological ...
The analysis of the results showed that robot-assisted intervention could be beneficial by improving children's psychosocial skills.
Efficacy of robot-assistive training for children with autism ...
Results showed that the combination of robot-assisted training with standard therapy was more effective than the standard therapy alone, in terms of improvement ...
Qualitative outcomes and impact of a robotic intervention ...
This study aimed to identify the qualitative outcomes of a robot-mediated social skills training programme for children with autism spectrum disorder.
Social Humanoid Robots for Children with Autism ...
The results have indicated that the robot-assisted therapy using KASPAR can be an effective intervention to improve the theory of mind and ...
Assisted Robots in Therapies for Children with Autism ...
From this study, the conclusion is that the use of robots, in general, improves children's behaviour in the short term, but longer-term experiences are ...
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