Evaluating Pathways Mutual Gaze Protocol on Social Skills in Young Children Suspected of Autism

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.

NCT Number	NCT06596226
Lead Sponsor	The University of Texas at Dallas Collaborators: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Conditions	Autism
Enrollment	80 participants
Start Date	2024-09-10
Primary Completion	2026-10-15 (estimated)
Study Completion	2026-12-15 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-06-26