57 Participants Needed

JASPER Therapy for Down Syndrome

SH
Overseen BySophie Hurewitz
Age: < 18
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: Boston Children's Hospital
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the JASPER treatment for Down Syndrome?

Research shows that children with Down syndrome can develop play skills similar to typically developing children when engaged in collaborative play, which is a key component of JASPER. Additionally, symbolic play, which is part of JASPER, is linked to cognitive development in children with Down syndrome.12345

Is JASPER therapy safe for humans?

The available research on JASPER therapy, primarily focused on children with autism, does not report any safety concerns, suggesting it is generally safe for use in humans.34678

How is the JASPER treatment for Down Syndrome different from other treatments?

JASPER therapy is unique because it focuses on improving joint attention, symbolic play, engagement, and regulation, which are critical developmental areas for children with Down Syndrome. Unlike other treatments, it uses naturalistic developmental behavioral techniques to enhance play and communication skills, making it distinct from more traditional therapies.468910

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial studies the impact of JASPER therapy, which involves one-on-one coaching for caregivers of children with Down syndrome. The goal is to improve children's play, attention, and interaction skills, as well as caregiver confidence and effectiveness. JASPER is a naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention that has been shown to improve social communication, play skills, and language skills in children.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for children aged 3-6 with confirmed Trisomy 21 Down Syndrome who can walk and speak English. Their caregiver must be able to do virtual coaching or learn a behavioral curriculum. Children with mosaic/translocation Down syndrome, major hearing/vision issues, or autism cannot join.

Inclusion Criteria

English speaking
I have been diagnosed with Down syndrome.
I am between 3 and 6 years old.
See 2 more

Exclusion Criteria

I have major hearing or vision issues that haven't been corrected.
My child does not have a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
I have a specific type of Down syndrome.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive either the JASPER intervention or a psychoeducational curriculum for 10 weeks

10 weeks
10 weekly virtual sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

10 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • JASPER
  • Psychoeducational Curriculum
Trial Overview The study compares JASPER behavioral therapy—a one-on-one coaching method—with a self-taught psychoeducational curriculum for caregivers of children with Down Syndrome to see which better improves child development and behavior.
Participant Groups
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Psychoeducational Curriculum GroupExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Caregivers receiving the 10 weekly psychoeducational curriculum modules will be provided with the resources via secure email and encouraged to engage with the material a self-directed manner. The psychoeducational modules will include written information about child development, communication and social interaction skills, behavioral principles for managing challenging behavior and strategies for teaching new skills. No direct caregiver-child mediated coaching will be provided. The content of the modules will include information about developmental milestones in this age group for children with DS, behavior management strategy recommendations, positive parenting materials, and materials on increasing engagement through play.
Group II: JASPER Intervention GroupExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Caregivers receiving the JASPER intervention will undergo weekly virtual 60-minute sessions for 10 weeks conducted via Zoom. The content of the intervention includes teaching and implementation of contingent responding and specific strategies to provide a high-quality response to children's communication, and play behaviors. Caregiver training is completed through review of pre-recorded videos of the caregiver-child dyad each week. The first half of each session will be dedicated to reviewing previous content and feedback on the play recording. The following half will consist of new material. The coaching support includes contingent responding, the parent is also taught to use specific strategies to provide a rich, high-quality response to children's communication, and play behaviors.

JASPER is already approved in United States for the following indications:

🇺🇸
Approved in United States as JASPER for:
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), specifically for improving social communication and play skills in minimally verbal children

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Boston Children's Hospital

Lead Sponsor

Trials
801
Recruited
5,584,000+

Findings from Research

The JASPER intervention, which focuses on joint attention, play skills, and language development, showed significant improvements in these areas for children with autism spectrum disorder compared to those who did not receive the intervention, based on a review of 19 studies.
While parents and educators generally found the JASPER techniques effective, the studies reviewed did not meet all quality indicators, indicating a need for further research to explore the broader impacts of JASPER on children with autism.
The effects of JASPER intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review.Waddington, H., Reynolds, JE., Macaskill, E., et al.[2021]
In a pilot study involving minimally verbal children with autism aged 3 to 5, the JASPER intervention showed significant improvements in play diversity and engagement compared to a control group receiving standard ABA therapy.
The JASPER treatment, which included just 30 minutes of intervention twice a week, led to increased initiation of gestures and reduced unengaged time in the classroom, highlighting its potential effectiveness in addressing core deficits in autism.
Preschool based JASPER intervention in minimally verbal children with autism: pilot RCT.Goods, KS., Ishijima, E., Chang, YC., et al.[2021]
The JASPER intervention significantly improved play skills in 109 preschool-age children with autism, enhancing both the diversity and complexity of their play compared to control groups.
Children who showed more joint attention skills at the start of the intervention made even greater improvements in their play skills, highlighting the importance of targeting both play and joint attention in autism interventions.
Developmental Play Skills as Outcomes of Early Intervention.Chang, YC., Shire, S., Shih, W., et al.[2023]

References

Mother-child play: children with Down syndrome and typical development. [2023]
Pretend play and patterns of cognition in Down's syndrome children. [2006]
From infant affect expression to symbolic play: the coherence of development in Down syndrome children. [2007]
The Use of Virtual and Computational Technologies in the Psychomotor and Cognitive Development of Children with Down Syndrome: A Systematic Literature Review. [2022]
Mental ability, symbolic play and receptive and expressive language of young children with Down's syndrome. [2019]
The effects of JASPER intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review. [2021]
Preschool based JASPER intervention in minimally verbal children with autism: pilot RCT. [2021]
Developmental Play Skills as Outcomes of Early Intervention. [2023]
Effects of a naturalistic sign intervention on expressive language of toddlers with Down syndrome. [2022]
Aggregated early intervention effects for Down's syndrome persons: patterning and longevity of benefits. [2019]
Unbiased ResultsWe believe in providing patients with all the options.
Your Data Stays Your DataWe only share your information with the clinical trials you're trying to access.
Verified Trials OnlyAll of our trials are run by licensed doctors, researchers, and healthcare companies.
Back to top
Terms of Service·Privacy Policy·Cookies·Security