This study focuses on improving purposeful arm use while simultaneously reducing engagement in stereotypies. It is typically expected that the training period for this study will last about 6 months. The first half of the training periods will be devoted to learning to separate hands to stop the stereotypies that interfere with arm and hand use. In this first half, participants will also need to learn to keep arms apart in order to be actively involved in the chosen game. The second half of the training period will be devoted to learning to stop stereotypies and reach for targets that are intended to start game play. When not touching the targets, the software will interpret that the game should stop and wait for the next target to be touched.
Baseline measurements taken at start of study. Training occurs for separation tasks for the first 13 weeks, with four 15-min sessions running per week. To gradually improve in ability to control gaming with arms/hands, each participant has the option of trying 13 levels or challenges on the extent of separation (how far apart hands can be taken.) Training occurs for the final 13 weeks for reaching tasks. Here, the participant must separate hands and reach for a defined target in order to initiate game play. These sessions will also last 15 minutes each and four sessions will be required per week. At the conclusion of the 26 weeks of training, the measurements of functional arm/hand use, and other behavioral measurements taken at Baseline will be repeated and compared to Baseline to assist in determining the success of the gaming used to train purposeful and functional arm use.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
14
Investigators will personalize gaming sessions based on the motivators and interests of each participant. During each intervention session, the participant will be encouraged to initiate voluntary hand separations in order to activate or control the gaming activity.
Georgetown University School of Medicine
Bethesda, Maryland, United States
Counts and timing of obligatory stereotypies
We will collect two variables: the number of times the participant engages in her unique stereotypy and the length of time (in seconds) that the stereotypy occurs. Data will be collected from both weekly intervention sessions and the two functional assessments. Functional data will be collected from the movements made by the individual as well as from BEFORE and AFTER questionnaires to be completed by the caregivers of the participant.
Time frame: 60 min functional assessment periods: one just before start of intervention (baseline) and one at the end of intervention (post-intervention testing) Weekly data collection from intervention sessions: enrollment to end of intervention 26 weeks later.
Timing and number of separations (ceasing stereotypies)
Data will be collected from intervention sessions and the two functional assessments. Data will be in both the number of times each girls separates hands (counts) and timing (in seconds) to record how long hands remained apart. Functional data will be collected from the movements made by the individual as well as from BEFORE and AFTER questionnaires to be completed by the caregivers of the participant.
Time frame: Two 60 minute assessment periods: one just before start of intervention (baseline) and one at the end of intervention (post-intervention testing). Data from intervention sessions will run from enrollment to end of intervention 26 weeks later.
Reaching data for number of reaches and amount of time reaching occurs
Data will be collected from intervention sessions and the two functional reach assessments. Counts of the number of purposeful reaches and the extent of time (measured in seconds) the reach is maintained. Functional data will be collected from the movements made by the individual as well as from BEFORE and AFTER questionnaires to be completed by the caregivers of the participant.
Time frame: Two 60-minute assessment periods: one at baseline and one post final intervention session. Data from weekly intervention will be gathered from enrollment to 26 weeks later when intervention is complete.
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