Communication Strategies for Intellectual Disability

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Joel Ringdahl, PhD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Joel E. Ringdahl

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

60 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate how preference for communication approach (e.g., using a touch talker versus picture cards) impacts treatment maintenance in the context of treatment to reduce challenging behavior exhibited by individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. As well, the clinical trial will evaluate how this preference impacts treatment relapse when care providers implement intervention and will identify potential demographic variables (e.g., age and symptom severity) that affect outcomes.

The main question\[s\] it aims to answer \[is/are\]:

Preferred communication strategies will persist to a greater extent when intervention is disrupted, relative to less preferred communication strategies.

Communication modality preference will increase persistence for individuals with lower pre-experimental symptom severity scores and higher pre-experimental communication functioning scores. We predict demographic characteristics and developmental level will not impact intervention outcomes.

Two groups will be compared. Group 1 will receive initial intervention using a preferred communication strategy. Group 2 will receive initial intervention using a non preferred, but effective, communication strategy. Intervention type will then be reversed. Researchers will compare preferred and non preferred interventions on continued expression of the communication strategy when intervention is challenged.

Participants will exhibit alternative appropriate communicative behavior as a means of replacing/reducing challenging behavior. This will take place using (a) preferred communication strategies and (b) non preferred communication strategies. Following successful intervention with each type of communication, intervention will be challenged and continued use of the communication strategy will be measured.

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, including those with speech impairment, autism spectrum disorder, or communication disorders. Participants should exhibit challenging behavior that may be reduced through effective communication strategies.

Inclusion Criteria

Diagnosis of intellectual or developmental disability

Referred for assessment and treatment of challenging behavior

I am at least 2 years old.

Exclusion Criteria

I can talk and make myself understood.

Challenging behavior does not occur within the context of structured assessment, eliminating the ability to identify its operant function, or the behavior is deemed too dangerous to safely observe during assessment

Can only identify one proficient AAC strategy.

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• NonPrefFCT
• PrefFCT

Trial Overview The study compares the effectiveness of preferred versus non-preferred communication strategies (like touch talkers vs. picture cards) in maintaining treatment when regular intervention is disrupted. It also examines if preference affects relapse and how demographic factors like age and symptom severity influence outcomes.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: PrefFCT Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

PrefFCT involves reinforcing an appropriate communicative response determined to be preferred by the individual relative to a second appropriate communicative response. During PrefFCT, participants will receive access to the functionally relevant reinforcer following occurrences of the specified communication modality. Challenging behavior will not produce any programmed consequence.

Group II: NonPrefFCT Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

NonPrefFCT involves reinforcing an appropriate communicative response determined to be less preferred by the individual relative to another appropriate communicative response. During NonPrefFCT, participants will receive access to the functionally relevant reinforcer following occurrences of the specified communication modality. Challenging behavior will not produce any programmed consequence.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Joel E. Ringdahl

Lead Sponsor

University of Florida

Collaborator

Trials

1,428

Recruited

987,000+

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Collaborator

Trials

162

Recruited

26,900+

University of Iowa

Collaborator

Trials

486

Recruited

934,000+

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Collaborator

Trials

2,103

Recruited

2,760,000+