autism intervention – Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre

Conducting a Clinical Trial during COVID-19

April 3, 2020April 3, 2020

Our team were excited to launch a new study this year, a clinical trial exploring whether combining an established social learning therapy–the parent delivered Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)–would be enhanced by pairing it with a nasal spray. In this randomised placebo-controlled double-blind study, all participants receive one-on-one coaching with an Early Start Denver Model therapist for 12 weeks. While all participants receive a nasal spray, for 50%, this is a placebo, enabling us to compare the group results. This study is for children aged 3-5 years and their parent/caregiver.

Introducing social-distancing due to COVID-19 part-way through the study has been a challenge requiring flexibility from our team (particularly our wonderful parent coaches and participants). Under the guidance of Dr Sally Rogers and with support from our partners at the Brain and Mind Institute, University of Sydney, our p-ESDM therapy is going online! Using video technology, our therapists have been able to “meet” participants in their own home. This has involved using the live video to watch parents working with their children, and coaching them in their familiar environment. Although not the original plan, there might be benefits to this approach. Parents and children can feel comfortable in their home environment, skills might generalise more easily when taught in a familiar setting, and it saves travel time onto campus.

A number of challenges remain for us while continuing this study. While we have succeeded in taking the intervention online, the stringent eligibility assessments are currently paused until it is safe to see new participants face to face again. Understandably, we are unable to take participants for a medical check with the study doctor until the pressure is taken off our health system. So, during COVID-19, our team will continue taking expressions of interest from new families interested in hearing more about the trial, staying in touch with families who have already expressed interest and are waiting for their assessments, and learning all we can from this new and unique time. This is another example of how COVID-19 has challenged us, yet brought us together to enhance our cooperation and collaboration, creativity, and flexibility.

If you have a child on the spectrum aged 3-5 years and are interested in this study, please ontact Dr Rachel Jellett

News

Calling all sensory detectives and creators…

April 3, 2020April 3, 2020

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dr Katy Unwin, researches sensory processing in autism and offers the following advice for those at home

We know that most people with autism, and some people without autism, have sensory issues. For those on the spectrum, noises that go unnoticed by many can sound like a booming drum. Equally, lights that seem unobtrusive to most can be glaring and extremely bright. And yet, those on the spectrum may also be under-stimulated across the senses, needing more sensory input. During this time when we are all stuck in our homes, I would like to call attention to these sensory issues in the hope that with a little thought, we can help meet our own sensory needs, or the needs of those on the spectrum whom we live with.

Being sensory detectives

Your starting point is to consider what the sensory needs are and to do this, you need to become a sensory detective. If your child on the spectrum likes a particular toy or activity, consider what sensory input they may be seeking from it. For example, if they love running their hands along the walls and floors, they may be enjoying the different textures they feel. Alternatively, if you are noticing that they are becoming withdrawn or agitated, consider if there is some sensory input that may be causing them discomfort. If they become upset when the dishwasher comes on, perhaps they are feeling over-stimulated by the whirling noise.

Create more stimulation

Once you’ve pinpointed a need for more stimulation, it’s time to get creative. Everything we use in every-day life has a sensory quality. Here are some ideas:

Putting pasta or rice in a plastic or metal bottle will give a great crunching sound when shaken.
Scrunching up some aluminium foil and sticking it to some card will create a bumpy texture.
Putting different colour scarves over a torch or a phone flashlight could create a light show!

Go around your house smelling, touching, looking and listening and see what sensory experiences you could create!

Create less stimulation

Your sensory detective mode might have revealed too much sensory input, rather than too little. In this case, why not create a sensory calming space? This can be in a small room or even a tent or cubby house made out of a sheet. The aim in this space is to reduce all the stimulation possible across the senses. Fill the space with comfy cushions and make the light level low. Sit in the space and ask yourself, what can I see, hear, smell and feel? Is there a small buzzing sound from a plug or a smell coming from the garden? Try to reduce these as much as possible so that the space feels quiet on all the senses.

There’s no one-size-fits-all guide to meeting sensory needs, so just try things out and see how it goes.