Evaluation of the TAP-Preschool (TAP-P) for Tele-assessment of Autism in Preschool-aged Children
TELE-ASD-PEDS-Preschool (TAP-P) Psychometrics and Decision Support for Preschool Autism Tele-Assessment
Who can join
36 Months – 72 Months · All sexes
Full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Children 36-72 months of age; * Participation of a primary caregiver who can speak and understand English sufficiently to complete questionnaires and interviews; * Primary caregiver access to the technology required for tele assessment (e.g., smartphone, tablet, or computer with internet connection and audio/video capabilities); * Ability to travel to VUMC for the in-person diagnostic assessment; * Referral for questions related to autism, developmental delay, or developmental concerns, or have no identified concerns (to ensure phenotypic variability). Exclusion Criteria: * Severe, non-corrected sensory or motor impairments (e.g., profound hearing or vision impairment, inability to ambulate) that would prevent completion of study procedures; * Medical or genetic conditions for which tele-assessment is inappropriate or insufficient (e.g., rare genetic syndromes, severe epilepsy, fragile medical stability) * Presentation with conditions requiring alternative assessment pathways incompatible with the study protocol.
About the study
Use of tele-assessment for evaluation and diagnosis of autism in toddlers has demonstrated success in increasing service access and reducing clinical wait times, with high levels of diagnostic accuracy, clinician confidence, and family satisfaction; however, these models have not yet been rigorously evaluated within the preschool age range. The TAP-Preschool (TAP-P) was developed by the investigative team for tele-assessment of autism in preschool-aged children, with preliminary studies demonstrating utility with many children with limited verbal language and some children with more flexible verbal language. The proposed study will recruit a larger sample of children with varied language and phenotypic profiles to (1) thoroughly evaluate the psychometric properties of the TAP-P and (2) investigate child and family factors associated with diagnostic ascertainment and family satisfaction with tele-assessment to inform the creation of a decision support tool intended to recommend families for either tele- or in-person assessment, with the ultimate goal of optimizing clinical care models to serve patients in efficient ways while routing families to diagnostic care pathways that best fit their needs.
What is being tested
- Tele-assessment using the TAP-P (behavioral)
Sponsor: Vanderbilt University Medical Center · Participants: 250 · Started: Oct 4, 2026
Contact the study team
- Laura Corona · Phone: 615-936-5777
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07932665
Locations in the U.S.
| Tennessee | Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville |
Conditions
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Nov 15, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.