A Familiarization Protocol Facilitates the Participation of Children with ASD in Electrophysiological Research

Summary

Electrophysiological research is an important tool for identifying biomarkers of developmental disorders, including Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), but data collection in these populations remains challenging. This work presents a familiarization protocol to accompany research that includes electroencephalography (EEG) to improve the likelihood of collecting EEG data from children with ASD.

Abstract

This paper includes a detailed description of a familiarization protocol, which is used as an integral component of a larger research protocol to collect electroencephalography (EEG) data and Event-Related Potentials (ERPs). At present, the systems available for the collection of high-quality EEG/ERP data make significant demands on children with developmental disabilities, such as those with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Children with ASD may have difficulty adapting to novel situations, tolerating uncomfortable sensory stimuli, and sitting quietly. This familiarization protocol uses Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) to increase research participants' knowledge and understanding of the specific activities and steps of the research protocol. The tools in this familiarization protocol are a social narrative, a visual schedule, the Premack principle, role-playing, and modeling. The goal of this familiarization protocol is to increase understanding and agency and to potentially reduce anxiety for child participants, resulting in a greater likelihood of the successful completion of the research protocol for the collection of EEG/ERP data.

Introduction

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by a constellation of social communicative difficulties and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior^1,2. As the number of identified individuals who meet the criteria for ASD increases, so does the desire to better understand the neurological underpinnings associated with ASD. Experts have suggested that future research should include the development of processes for the early detection of atypical brain function, which may then lead to interventions to support the brain systems hypothesized to impact social behavior

Protocol

All procedures have been approved by the appropriate research ethics committee at Southern Connecticut State University and Yale University, with consent from participants.

1. Create a Social Narrative

Figure 1. Social Narrative. A sample social narrative, read to the participant prior to the first appointment and by the resea....

Results

As part of a series of studies on eye gaze and audiovisual speech perception, an initial cohort of 25 participants with ASD and average IQs (n = 25, 19 boys, 6 girls, mean age = 10.25 years) was recruited using a similar EEG protocol (Figure 9). 72% of the children in this previous cohort completed the EEG protocol. In the current cohort, thus far 15 participants with ASD were recruited  (n = 15, 11 boys, 4 girls, mean age = 9.4 years), 12 of whom participated in the fami.......

Discussion

The familiarization protocol outlined above applies EBPs to increase the likelihood that child participants with ASD will be able to complete multiple testing sessions and EEG data collection. Prior to the implementation of the steps in this familiarization process, participants were unable to complete all components of the EEG research acquisition protocol. Preliminary data from this study show that all participants who engage in the familiarization protocol were able to complete the full EEG data collection.

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Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
128 Channel HydroCel Geodesic Sensor Net	Electrical  Geodesics Incorporated (EGI)