TeleABA for Hospitalized Adolescents and Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Starting soon · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

In brief

This study is evaluating whether a telehealth-based applied behavior analysis (ABA) program can improve the care of adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who are hospitalized because of severe challenging behaviors, such as aggression, self-injury, property destruction, or elopement. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either standard hospital care alone or standard hospital care plus a Telehealth Applied Behavior Analysis for Hospitalized Adolescents and Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder (TeleABA) program. The TeleABA program includes assessment by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), individualized behavior support recommendations, coaching for hospital staff, caregiver training, discharge planning, and four weekly telehealth sessions with caregivers after the participant leaves the hospital. Researchers will compare the two groups to determine whether the TeleABA program improves behavioral outcomes, caregiver confidence and stress, hospital experiences, and the transition from the hospital to home. The findings may help identify more effective ways to support individuals with autism and their families during and after behavioral health hospitalizations.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07701915

Run by

Caring Technologies, Inc.

People needed

120

Starts

2026-08-01

Expected to finish

2027-07-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-07-14

Who can join

Age: 12 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Age 12 years or older.
• Established or documented diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the electronic medical record or confirmed by the attending provider using DSM-5 criteria.
• Admitted to a participating Hackensack Meridian Health hospital due to behavioral concerns (e.g., aggression, self-injury, elopement, or property destruction) that contribute to or prolong hospitalization.
• Behavioral support identified by the attending provider as a primary component of the current admission.
• Caregiver or legally authorized representative (LAR) able to provide informed consent.
• Patient assent obtained when applicable.
• Voluntary, court-mandated, and ward-of-the-state admissions are eligible.

You may not qualify if…

• Admission for an acute medical condition in which behavioral concerns are not a primary driver of hospitalization.
• Medical instability that precludes participation in telehealth sessions.
• Absence of a caregiver or legally authorized representative able to provide informed consent.

Where it is running

• Hackensack Meridian Health Jersey Shore University Medical Center — Neptune City, New Jersey, United States
• Children's Specialized Hospital-Rutgers University Center for Autism Research, Education, and Services (CSH-RUCARES) — Somerset, New Jersey, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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