University of Southern California
University of Southern California
USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

Research

Current Projects

Sensory and Social Development in Infants and Toddlers (SASI) find out more

SASI is a longitudinal study which aims to understand individual differences in social and sensory development in typically developing and high-risk infants and toddlers. This study examines these domains through behavioral and physiological measures. We will be looking for families with an infant or toddler between the ages of 6 and 16 months to participate. We will be recruiting both a general community sample of infants as well as infants who have an older sibling with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and may be at higher familial risk. Study participation includes a brief survey and, depending on survey outcomes, 3 assessment time points over 3 months. Your family will be compensated for your time (up to $150), and parking is provided.

If you are interested in participating or hearing more, please contact the study team at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or (323) 442-2520.

Sensory Experiences Project (SEP) find out more

The SEP was a 10-year longitudinal study that has concluded enrollment and is in the data analysis phase. The purpose of this project was to explain the development, functional impact, and pathogenesis of unusual sensory experiences in children with ASD, developmental delay and/or typical development with implications for early identification and intervention. The SEP also examined sensory subtypes of children with ASD.

The SEP included a series of six studies:

Southern California Child Development Survey (SoCal CDS) find out more

SoCal CDS is a survey study examining children’s development from 6 to 16 months of age in domains such as social communication and sensory regulation. We are recruiting families from communities within the greater Los Angeles area to collect normative data on a diverse population. Participants will complete a 15-20 minute survey including the “First Years Inventory” (FYI), a questionnaire which asks parents about how their child responds to people, objects, and events. The survey also includes questions about developmental history and any potential concerns. Data obtained from birth records will also be used for analyses with survey outcomes to describe and correlate demographic and perinatal factors such as Apgar scores.

If you are interested in learning more about this study, please contact the project coordinator, Elizabeth Choi-Tucci, at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or (323) 442-2520.

Completed Projects

Early Behavioral Characteristics and Biobehavioral Signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A Novel Parent-Infant Interaction Paradigm
November 2018 to August 2020

Evaluation of a Novel Intervention for Infants at Risk for Neurodevelopmental Disorders
August 2017 to July 2020

First Years Inventory (FYI) Pilot Study to Culturally Diverse Populations in Los Angeles
November 2018 to August 2020

Interdisciplinary Leadership in ASD: Optimizing Research-Practice Partnerships for Evidence-Based Outcomes
February 2017 to July 2019

Moving Beyond the Average: Building a Comprehensive Model of Classroom Quality that Incorporates Children’s Individual Experiences
September 2020 to July 2022

Parent-Infant Engaged: Extension Pilot Study to Culturally Diverse Populations in Los Angeles
November 2018 to May 2020

Parent-Infant Physiology Study (PIPS)
November 2018 to March 2020

Parents and Infants Engaged (PIE)
August 2017 to July 2020