Rural Autistic Individuals - Supporting Expression

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating how hand gestures, adapted from American Sign Language signs, can support language understanding and communication skills in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), including those who speak, do not speak, or have minimal verbal abilities. The study also welcomes participants with other cognitive profiles such as Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), ADHD, Dyslexia, and typical development, especially those living in rural communities with limited access to services. The goal is to help families use gestures effectively to aid communication with their children. The study involves a behavioral intervention using speech-gesture combinations to evaluate language comprehension with and without gestures. Participants undergo a series of language and gesture tasks, including passive viewing of pictures and gesture videos, picture book evaluations for language comprehension and IQ, and questionnaires for adults or caregivers about demographics, diagnoses, and communication experiences. The research uses non-invasive brain imaging methods, including EEG and fNIRS, recorded simultaneously with a specialized cloth helmet and wires, to measure brain responses during the tasks. Participants, both children aged 2 years and older and adults, engage in about 2 to 3 hours of study activities with breaks. Assessments include eye tracking, EEG/ERP brain response, and fNIRS brain response measures from enrollment through study completion within three months. Questionnaires and cognitive evaluations are also part of the study to understand language comprehension and communication. The study monitors brain activity and behavioral responses to understand the impact of gestures on language processing in this population.

Rural Autistic Individuals - Supporting Expression