Communication during infant and parent play

We are recruiting 10-12 month-old infants who either have an older sibling diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or have no family history of ASD. Having an older sibling allows us to compare infants who may have a higher likelihood of developing ASD with those who do not.

This study will take place on a video call, live with a researcher! Clicking on the “Schedule a time to participate” button will send you to an online calendar where you can select a date and time that works for you.

In this scheduled live Zoom session, you and your baby will play together while a researcher observes and provides simple instructions through an earpiece. During some parts of the session, you will respond to your baby’s vocalizations in specific ways (such as smiling, speaking, or gently interacting). During other parts, you will continue playing as you normally would.

The session lasts about 40 minutes and includes short play periods. After signing up, we will send you a Zoom link and simple setup instructions before the session. You will need a laptop with Zoom and bluetooth earphones so you can hear the researcher’s instructions.

No preparation is required, and you can stop at any time.

Babies learn to communicate through everyday back-and-forth moments with caregivers — like when a baby makes a sound and someone responds. This study explores how these responsive interactions help babies learn new vocal skills. We are especially interested in understanding whether babies learn differently depending on how adults respond to them.

By studying these early learning processes, we hope to better understand how communication develops in the first year of life. This research may help scientists learn more about early social development and, in the long term, inform ways to better support children who may be at risk for communication challenges.

45 Minutes

Families who complete the study will receive a small wireless microphone set that they can keep, as well as a $10 Amazon.com gift card. To receive compensation, the child must be within the eligible age range, the child must be visible on the video call for at least part of the session, and each child may participate only once.

The Amazon.com gift card will be sent by email within 2 days after the session is completed.