Evaluating The Efficacy of Pathways Parent-Mediated Intervention's Mutual Gaze Protocol on Social Skills in Young Children Suspected of Having Autism: A Randomized Control Trial
Purpose of the Study: The goal of this clinical trial is to find out if a technique called the mutual gaze procedure, used in Pathways Early Intervention (Pathways), is the key to helping improve social communication, language, and everyday skills in young children (16-30 months old) who are at high risk for autism, particularly those from diverse cultural and language backgrounds. What Will Happen: Researchers will compare two versions of the Pathways Intervention: * Version 1: Includes mutual gaze strategies. * Version 2: Does not include mutual gaze strategies. What to Expect: Participants will: * Attend 12 sessions of Pathways Intervention, each lasting 1.5 hours (or 15 weeks if there are cancellations). * Come to the clinic for a developmental check-up three times: before starting Pathways, right after completing Pathways, and three months after finishing Pathways.
• Children must be between 16-30 months old at the start of the study;
• Children must receive social disability index of 7 or lower on the EarliPointTM assessment with a researcher (i.e., human) confirming social challenges are present;
• Parents must report no other known neurological or genetic concerns or disorders
• Parents must be fluent in English
• Parents must live within a 30-mile radius of the Callier Center Dallas.