Headsprout Reading Program in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Reading Delay
| Status: | Suspended |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Neurology, Psychiatric, Psychiatric, Autism |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Neurology, Psychiatry / Psychology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 7 - 18 |
| Updated: | 4/6/2019 |
| Start Date: | October 1, 2018 |
| End Date: | December 31, 2019 |
A Feasibility Study of Headsprout Reading Program in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Reading Delay
Headsprout is a commercially available computer-based reading program that teaches children
fundamental reading skills, including phonics, fluency, and comprehension. The Headsprout
reading intervention has been shown to be effective with children with various levels of
reading skills, but it has not been rigorously tested in children with autism spectrum
disorder (ASD). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Headsprout in a
pilot sample of 18 children with ASD and reading delays to serve as a foundation for a
larger, future randomized clinical trial (RCT).
Eighteen participants will be included in the study and randomly assigned to one of two
groups; the first group will immediately receive treatment with the Headsprout reading
program and the second treatment group will receive treatment after 12 weeks. Treatment
sessions will occur for one to two hours, two to four days a week, for twelve weeks. The
participants who do not receive treatment immediately will be asked to come in for reading
assessments periodically throughout their wait time.
fundamental reading skills, including phonics, fluency, and comprehension. The Headsprout
reading intervention has been shown to be effective with children with various levels of
reading skills, but it has not been rigorously tested in children with autism spectrum
disorder (ASD). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Headsprout in a
pilot sample of 18 children with ASD and reading delays to serve as a foundation for a
larger, future randomized clinical trial (RCT).
Eighteen participants will be included in the study and randomly assigned to one of two
groups; the first group will immediately receive treatment with the Headsprout reading
program and the second treatment group will receive treatment after 12 weeks. Treatment
sessions will occur for one to two hours, two to four days a week, for twelve weeks. The
participants who do not receive treatment immediately will be asked to come in for reading
assessments periodically throughout their wait time.
A large number of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience reading delays, yet
few empirically supported reading interventions exist for this population. Reading delay can
interfere with academic progress, impede vocational opportunities, hinder self-expression,
and limit capacity for independent living. Accessing empirically supported interventions for
reading skills can be difficult, with parents of children with ASD facing long waiting lists
at specialty clinics, reflecting the simple fact that demand is greater than the supply of
trained providers. There is a pressing need for access to affordable interventions that do
not depend on specialty clinics.
As a commercially available, computer-based program, Headsprout may be a good fit for
children with ASD. Headsprout has shown effectiveness in children with reading delay
uncomplicated by ASD, but has not been rigorously studied in children with ASD. This study
will investigate the effects of the Headsprout reading program on improving reading skills of
children with autism. Eighteen children will be recruited and the researchers will evaluate
their current language use by: 1) asking their parents to rate their child's language, 2)
completing an echoic skill assessment. Current reading skills will be determined by
administering a reading assessment that evaluates their reading accuracy and fluency.
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups; the first group will immediately
receive treatment with the Headsprout reading program and the second treatment group will
receive treatment after 12 weeks. During the intervention, children will meet with a trained
therapist, several times per week for approximately twelve weeks. The therapist will instruct
them to complete various reading activities on the computer. These reading activities may
include tasks such as receptively identifying letter names and letter sounds presented on the
computer or practicing saying sounds out loud and blending combinations of sounds together.
The participants who do not receive treatment immediately will be asked to come in for
reading assessments periodically throughout their wait time. At the end of 12 weeks these
participants will be able to start the Headsprout reading program.
few empirically supported reading interventions exist for this population. Reading delay can
interfere with academic progress, impede vocational opportunities, hinder self-expression,
and limit capacity for independent living. Accessing empirically supported interventions for
reading skills can be difficult, with parents of children with ASD facing long waiting lists
at specialty clinics, reflecting the simple fact that demand is greater than the supply of
trained providers. There is a pressing need for access to affordable interventions that do
not depend on specialty clinics.
As a commercially available, computer-based program, Headsprout may be a good fit for
children with ASD. Headsprout has shown effectiveness in children with reading delay
uncomplicated by ASD, but has not been rigorously studied in children with ASD. This study
will investigate the effects of the Headsprout reading program on improving reading skills of
children with autism. Eighteen children will be recruited and the researchers will evaluate
their current language use by: 1) asking their parents to rate their child's language, 2)
completing an echoic skill assessment. Current reading skills will be determined by
administering a reading assessment that evaluates their reading accuracy and fluency.
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups; the first group will immediately
receive treatment with the Headsprout reading program and the second treatment group will
receive treatment after 12 weeks. During the intervention, children will meet with a trained
therapist, several times per week for approximately twelve weeks. The therapist will instruct
them to complete various reading activities on the computer. These reading activities may
include tasks such as receptively identifying letter names and letter sounds presented on the
computer or practicing saying sounds out loud and blending combinations of sounds together.
The participants who do not receive treatment immediately will be asked to come in for
reading assessments periodically throughout their wait time. At the end of 12 weeks these
participants will be able to start the Headsprout reading program.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age 7.0 to 18.9
- Confirmed clinical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- Minimum score of 40 on the Early Echoic Skills Assessment (EESA), which assesses
language skills
- Display deficits in reading, testing at least two grade levels below current grade
level on the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS)
- English is primary language
Exclusion Criteria:
- Currently receiving an individualized intervention for reading
- Significant problem behavior
We found this trial at
1
site
Click here to add this to my saved trials
