A Randomized Controlled Trial for Audiovisual Multisensory Perception in Autistic Youth.

Researchers tested a computer training program designed to help autistic young people better process audio and visual information together (like matching sounds with lip movements). The training didn't work for most participants overall. However, it helped youth with stronger language and thinking skills, but actually made things worse for those with additional learning difficulties.

This randomized controlled trial examined whether computer-based perceptual training could improve audiovisual integration in 30 autistic youth aged 8-21. Participants were randomly assigned to either perceptual training (n=15) or control condition (n=15). The training aimed to narrow temporal binding windows (TBWs) - the time window in which audio and visual information are perceived as synchronized. Overall, the training group showed no significant improvement compared to controls on trained stimuli, untrained stimuli, or McGurk illusion perception.

However, subgroup analyses revealed differential effects: youth with higher language and nonverbal IQ benefited from training, while those with co-occurring cognitive and language impairments experienced widened TBWs, suggesting potential harm.

Results suggest perceptual training for audiovisual integration should be carefully targeted based on cognitive and language abilities. Pre-intervention assessment crucial to identify who may benefit versus experience harm. Further research needed to determine optimal training parameters and safety protocols.

Small sample size (n=30) limits generalizability. Brief training duration may have been insufficient. Subgroup analyses likely underpowered. No long-term follow-up reported to assess durability of effects or potential recovery from negative outcomes.

Differences in audiovisual integration are commonly observed in autism. Temporal binding windows (TBWs) of audiovisual speech can be trained (i.e., narrowed) in non-autistic adults; this study evaluated a computer-based perceptual training in autistic youth and assessed whether treatment outcomes varied according to individual characteristics. Thirty autistic youth aged 8-21 were randomly assigned to a brief perceptual training (n = 15) or a control condition (n = 15). At post-test, the perceptual training group did not differ, on average, on TBWs for trained and untrained stimuli and perception of the McGurk illusion compared to the control group.

The training benefited youth with higher language and nonverbal IQ scores; the training caused widened TBWs in youth with co-occurring cognitive and language impairments.