Autistic toddlers often need support to develop both social-communication and social-emotional skills. Social communication (such as making requests or sharing attention) is usually addressed in early intervention, but social-emotional needs (such as expressing feelings or learning to cope with frustration) are often overlooked. Both are important for children's development and for preventing challenging behaviors. This study is testing a blended intervention designed to support both areas at the same time. The program combines Project ImPACT, a caregiver-mediated social communication intervention, with universal practices from the Pyramid Model, a national framework for promoting young children's social-emotional development. Caregivers of autistic toddlers will be coached by early intervention providers to use strategies during everyday routines and play. The study will enroll 40 caregiver-toddler pairs, randomly assigning them to one of four study conditions. Families assigned to the waitlist control group will receive the intervention after a delay. The goal is to understand whether this blended approach improves toddlers' communication and emotional development, and whether caregivers find it helpful and practical in daily life. Because many states and early intervention systems already use the Pyramid Model, this study could provide a way to make those programs more inclusive of autistic children and their families.
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AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
Change in Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 1.5-5 Internalizing Problems T-Score
Timeframe: Baseline, 12 weeks (post-intervention), and 3-month follow-up.
Change in Brief Observation of Social Communication Change-Minimally Verbal Total Score
Timeframe: Baseline, 12 weeks (post-intervention), and 3-month follow-up.
Change in Frequency of Child Challenging Behavior During Caregiver-Child Routines
Timeframe: Baseline, 12 weeks (post-intervention), and 3-month follow-up.
Change in Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 1.5-5 Externalizing Problems Raw Score
Timeframe: Baseline, 12 weeks (post-intervention), and 3-month follow-up.
Change in Devereux Early Childhood Assessment for Infants and Toddlers Total Protective Factors T-Score
Timeframe: Baseline, 12 weeks (post-intervention), and 3-month follow-up.