Emergent Multi-Class Imitation Training

Official title

A Pilot Investigation of Emergent Multi-Class Imitation Training (EMIT)

Overview

The goals of this project are to (a) incorporate empirical findings on imitation training and learning in autistic children into a comprehensive protocol for Applied Behavior Analysis practitioners designed to rapidly facilitate generalized imitation called Emergent Multi-Class Imitation Training (EMIT), and (b) collect pilot data on the efficacy of EMIT with a small sample of autistic children. EMIT will incorporate several features that are grounded in prior research including: (a) evidence-based procedures for establishing trained matching relations (a pre-requisite to generalized imitation), (b) concurrent training of different response types (e.g., motor imitation, object imitation, vocal imitation) to address restricted generalization, (c) multiple manipulative object imitation training, (d) evidence-based procedures for remediating slow acquisition, and (e) frequent tests for the emergence of generalized imitation. EMIT will be the first protocol designed for clinical use that reflects research findings on imitation learning spanning almost five decades.

Detailed description

Using findings from prior research, the investigators will design a manualized training protocol (EMIT) for establishing generalized imitation in autistic children that supervised behavior therapists can implement with a high degree of fidelity. The EMIT protocol will serve as a guide for behavior therapists to help them deliver high-quality, empirically derived imitation training to autistic children. The investigators will conduct a small pilot study to evaluate the effects of EMIT on the emergence of generalized imitation with young autistic children. Single-case experimental design will be used. A multiple baseline across participants design is a single-case design that is common in imitation research with this population. In short, the start of the intervention is stagged across participants to systematically assess the effects of the intervention on each participant's behavior. In this experiment, confirmation that EMIT is responsible for any observed effects will be obtained when changes in each participant's behavior (i.e., correct imitation of novel responses) occur when, and only when, the intervention is introduced.

Interventions

• Behavioral Emergent Multi-Class Imitation Training
  Sessions will be conducted in a room with minimal distractions containing a table, two chairs, a timer, and 3-4 highly preferred (HP) items identified by preference assessments. A maximum of 10 sessions per week will be distributed across at least 3 days per week. Each session will take 15-20 min to conduct. Novel probe trials will be embedded throughout all sessions to continuously assess for the emergence of generalized imitation. When participants can consistently imitate novel probe response

Primary outcome measures

• Probe performance [Time frame: Approximately 3x per week throughout participant's EMIT intervention, approximately 3-6 months]

Secondary outcome measures (1)

• Motor Vocal Imitation Assessment [Time frame: Pre-Intervention and Post-Intervention (within 2 weeks of intervention completion)]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder
• Age 5 or under
• Maximum score of 40 on Motor Vocal Imitation Assessment
• Demonstrates identity matching above chance levels

Exclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of intellectual disability
• Diagnosis of certain conditions that impact motor function (e.g., cerebral palsy)
• Visual impairment
• Hearing impairment

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation

N/A

Model

Single group

Masking

Open label

Primary purpose

Treatment

Study locations

United States · 1 center

• Rutgers University — New Brunswick

Identifiers

NCT: NCT05849376 · Pro2022001609

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗