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The research investigations below have received approval from Aspect’s Research Approval Committee. If you are interested in participation in any of the research studies and would like to learn more, please click on the title of the study.
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Family and Friends of Children with Autism
Researchers at the University of Sydney are conducting a study called: “A Play-based Intervention for children with ASD: A Pilot Study.”
Who? We are seeking participation of children between the ages of 5-11 with a diagnosis of high functioning Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome, who speak English at home; or children who are a regular playmate of a child with high functioning Autism or Asperger’s syndrome.
Why? Many children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have difficulty developing some of the social and language skills already possessed by many of their typically developing peers. Social and communication skills are vital for developing friendships, which are a crucial part of childhood development. If these skills are not developed, they may continue to struggle making friends. Children will receive intervention in an inviting play room that aims to address the difficulties that characterise the play and language of children with ASD. A therapist will assist both children and parents to identify and address the areas of play that needs to be developed. It will be fun! Your child will get to do what they love most: play!
When? The study will run from February 2011 – June 2012. Appointments will be made at a time convenient to you. Appointments will be 10, 40-minute sessions that run weekly. The 40-minute session consists of a
20-minute play session which will be recorded on videotape. This will
allow us to go back and watch the session to make sure we did not miss
anything during the play session. Segments of video footage will also be
used during the 20-minute skill development/feedback session. As
parents, we would like to invite you to be involved in the process so
that you can apply these skills at home.
Where? The study will be conducted at the Speech Pathology Clinic (‘S’ Block) at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Cumberland Campus, Lidcombe, Sydney University.
To join us please contact:
Dr Reinie Cordier
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(02) 9351-9216
Sarah Wilkes-Gillan
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Gemma Bridle
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Human ethics committee approval number: 14290
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Quality and Quantity of Friendships in autistic children
Are you between 10 and 16 years old with a diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder or know someone who is?
We are inviting children diagnosed with High Functioning Autism or Asperger’s Disorder and their parents or guardians to take part in a study investigating the quality and quantity of friendships in autistic children.
Research will investigate
What’s involved?
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Only 15 minutes of your time!
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Parent and child to fill out a short questionnaire about child’s friendships.
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We will meet with you at a time and place that is most convenient to you.
Contact details:
Email:
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Phone: 9251 7235
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Face Processing Study
Are you aged between 12 and 21 years?
University of Newcastle researchers are investigating the social difficulties of people with autism spectrum disorders. Their aim is to determine how people process faces and recognise emotions and relate this to the social cognition difficulties that children and adults with autism spectrum disorder experience.
Download the flyer for more information (PDF 682KB)
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Research into a new treatment for young children with autism
The Brain & Mind Research Institute at the University of Sydney is currently conducting research evaluating a new treatment approach aimed to improve social functioning and reduce repetitive behaviours in children with Autism. The medication involves a synthetic version of a naturally occurring hormone, oxytocin. Past research has shown oxytocin can promote social functioning in adults and adolescents with autism. The current study will be the first to investigate the effects of oxytocin in young children with autism. We aim to see if oxytocin can improve social and behavioral symptoms of autism and promote the outcomes of therapy. If successful, oxytocin could provide a cheaper and quicker treatment option for the treatment of social and behavioral symptoms of autism.
We are looking for participants aged between 3 to 8 years and currently involved in one-to-one intervention. If you provide consent for your child, they will take part in clinical assessments and then receive a 5 week course of either oxytocin or placebo nasal spray. After a 4 week break, they will then take part in the same assessments and receive the alternative nasal spray.
For more information please contact CJ Yatawara, PHD student, by emailing
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or phone 0416 724 311.
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A research study about gastrointestinal microbes in children with autism
The aim of this study is to examine gastrointestinal microbes (such as bacteria and viruses) in children with autism. The results will assist in understanding the gastrointestinal problems (such as constipation and diarrhoea) experienced by many children with autism. Participants required:
- Children with autism (Autistic Disorder) and
- Typically developing siblings of children with autism
All children need to be aged between 2-6 years to be included.
What’s involved:
- Collect and send a faecal (poo) sample twice (with a two month interval between samples) and complete a short questionnaire.
You will be supplied with all necessary materials for collection, storage and postage. Parents will receive $50 for each participating child. Please help us with this important research. To register your interest or for more information, contact Shakuntla Gondalia, PhD candidate by emailing
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or phoning 0433 831 108.
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Parental Wellbeing Study
Are you a parent of a child with a confirmed diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder aged 6-16 years? If so, we would love to hear from you! We are interested in learning about the factors that are associated with parental wellbeing in families with a child with autism. Among other variables, our study will focus on parent and family functioning, parental beliefs and coping styles. It is anticipated that the information obtained from this study will help to identify the best way to support parents of children with autism and enhance their psychological well-being. Interested parents will have a questionnaire package mailed out to them. A plain language statement providing further information about the project and a reply-paid envelope for returning the questionnaire will also be enclosed. The information that is obtained will remain confidential and no names or identifying information will be recorded. We would greatly appreciate your involvement. Please contact Melanie Sampson, Master of Clinical Psychology Student, RMIT University
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or Associate Professor Susana Gavidia-Payne (Supervisor) RMIT University on (02) 9925-7710.
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Research has discovered that individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) show differences in some brain activities. Are such differences also observable in the infant siblings of those with ASD? The answer to this question could lead to a better understanding of ASD and how we manage such disorders. If you have a baby (aged 2 to 14 months) as well as a child (of any age) who has been diagnosed with ASD we would like to invite you and your baby to participate in our research. Our studies involve a visit to the Baby Lab in Hawthorn, Melbourne. You are able to stay with your baby throughout the study. If you would like to participate or would like further information please call 03 9214 8822, email
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, or see www.BabyLab.org.
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The Brain & Mind Research Institute at the University of Sydney is currently conducting research evaluating a new treatment approach for people with Autism and Aspergers that aims to improve social understanding. This is the first international trial to determine whether this treatment will improve social understanding in the long term for youth with Autism. It involves the administration of a nasal spray form of natural hormone, Oxytocin, and examines whether this particular medication can improve social functioning and emotion perception in young males aged between 12 and 18 with a mental age of 12 or above. Findings could potentially lead to a new treatment to improve social skills for youth with autism spectrum disorders.
If you provide consent for your child, they will receive a thorough clinical assessment and then eight weeks of treatment with Oxytocin or placebo. This nasal spray is a synthetic version of the hormone oxytocin which is found naturally in the human body and has been approved for use in humans by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Treatment will be supervised by medical and mental health professionals. Given at the dose your child may be given, there are not expected to be any significant negative side effects, although all participants are closely monitored by a psychiatrist.
If you would like to participate, or would like more information about oxytocin and this trial, please contact
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, or phone Dr. Adam Guastella on 02 9351 0881.
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The University of NSW are currently looking for adults aged 18 years and over who have been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome or High Functioning Autism (HPA) to investigate some of the reasons underlying the difficulties with social interactions and understanding the emotions and intentions of other people.
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