ASD and Deafness

About The Study

Researchers at Miami University are conducting a fully remote study to better understand how Deaf and hearing parents gain and maintain the attention of their autistic children during play. Your participation will help researchers learn more about parent–child interaction strategies that support communication and engagement.

This study is recruiting parents or legal guardians of autistic children ages 3–6 who fit into one of the following groups:

Deaf parents with deaf autistic children

Deaf parents with hearing autistic children

Hearing parents with deaf autistic children

Quick Facts

Remote Study
‍

Participate entirely from home.

Parents of Autistic Children

Child (Ages 3-6) must have a confirmed ASD diagnosis.

Short Time
Commitment

Total participation time is about 1–2 hours.

Compensation
& Benefits

Participants will receive up to $100 for participating & Families keep the toys, book, and tripod used in the study.

Who Can Participate?

You are the parent or legal guardian of a child with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Your child is between 3 and 6 years old
Your family fits one of the following groups: Deaf parents with a deaf autistic child, Deaf parents with a hearing autistic child, Hearing parents with a deaf autistic child
Your child does not have: Severe intellectual disability, Genetic syndromes (e.g., Fragile X, Rett syndrome), Significant motor impairment, Significant vision impairment
You have access to a smartphone or recording device with internet access
You are willing to receive a study kit by mail and upload a short video of you and your child playing together

What to Expect:

Complete online questionnaires (30–60 minutes)

Receive a study kit with toys, book, beanbag game, and a tripod

Record 15–30 minutes of natural play with your child using the provided materials

Upload the video through a secure portal

Keep all study materials after uploading your video

Benefits & Compensation

This study may help researchers better understand how parents engage the attention of their autistic children during play.
‍Participants will receive up to $100 for participating.
‍Families will keep the toys and tripod used during the play session.

FAQ

We’ve pulled together some basics to help you

Where does this study take place?

All participation occurs remotely in your home. Kits are mailed directly to you.

How long does the study take?

About 1–2 hours total, including questionnaires and a 15–30 minute recorded play session.

What are the study activities like?

You and your child will play naturally using toys and materials we provide. You will record the session using your own device and the included tripod.

Is my information confidential?

All questionnaire responses and video data are kept confidential and stored securely. Only authorized research staff will view the recordings.

Help Advance Research on Parent–Child Attention and Play