For Participants

• Provide Information about yourself, including contact information.
• Complete surveys and interviews concerning yourself and your child.
• Complete play activities with your child that are audio and video recorded.
• Provide urine, saliva, nail, and blood samples.

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) at 4 study visits
  • MRI uses a strong magnet and a computer to create pictures of the brain
• Electroencephalogram (EEG) of your child’s brain at 3 study visits
  • EEG uses a cap that measures electrical activity of the brain while doing activities
• Wearing sensors to measure movement, sleep, and heart rate
• Complete measures of learning, memory, and behavior.
• Take a vision test.
• Have measurements of height, weight, head size at the study visits
• Give samples of urine, saliva, and stool

• Prior to your infants MRI scan, we will have you feed your infant so that their belly is nice and full.  This is important because we get the best data if your baby is sleeping and content, and a nice full belly helps with both of these.
• Once you are finished feeding your baby, we will remove their clothing, swaddle them in two blanks and wrap them in a papoose.  We need to do this because we can’t have any metal in the scanner. 
• We will also place neonatal ear muffs on your infant to protect their hearing.
• A nurse will monitor your baby’s heart rate and oxygen during the entire scan and we will also monitor via a video camera and sound system located in the scanner.

The scan will itself will take approximately 90 minutes, but it may be longer when you account for transport to and from the scanner.

Click here to view a PowerPoint about our MRIs.

You will be paid for your and your child’s time.

If you are asked to return to repeat the MRI scan or EEGs at another time; you will be paid $50 for each repeated EEG visit, and $125 for each repeated MRI visit.

You will complete 3 trimester visits with the CUDDEL team at your OB visits. For each trimester, you will leave a urine sample at your OB appointment and receive a set of surveys to complete. After each completed visit you will receive $25 on a prepaid card. 

We will come see you in the hospital and bring you a gift and talk about the next phase of the study! There will be additional surveys and you will receive $25 once all surveys are completed. 

You and your infant will complete a study visit on the Washington University medical campus. Your child will undergo a birth MRI scan and developmental testing. Additionally, you will be compensated $100 for your participation. You will also receive surveys and be compensated $25 once completed.

Your infant will undergo an MRI scan and will participate in developmental testing. In the developmental testing, your child will be assessed by a nurse who will be looking at vision, movement, hearing, and reflexes. 

At the follow-up visit, you will complete a set of questionnaires. 

Prior to your infants MRI scan, we will have you feed your infant so that their belly is nice and full.  This is important because we get the best data if your baby is sleeping and content, and a nice full belly helps with both of these. Once you are finished feeding your baby, we will remove their clothing, swaddle them in two blanks and wrap them in a papoose.  We need to do this because we can’t have any metal in the scanner.  We will also place neonatal ear muffs on your infant to protect their hearing. A nurse will monitor your baby’s heart rate and oxygen during the entire scan and we will also monitor via a video camera and sound system located in the scanner. The scan will itself will take approximately 60 minutes but we allow 2 hours for transport to and from the scanner.

You and your child will complete a virtual developmental study visit over a secure Zoom call and receive surveys. Additionally, you will be compensated $25 for this 30-minute visit and another $25 after completing all surveys.

Your toddler will undergo developmental testing. In the developmental testing, your toddler will do some tasks alone, and some with you. 

At the follow-up visit, you will participate in your child’s developmental testing. You will also complete surveys about yourself and your baby. 

You and your child will complete a developmental study visit on the Washington University medical campus with study staff and receive another set of surveys. The visit will take approximately 2 hours. Additionally, you will be compensated $50 for this visit and $50 completing all surveys.

Your toddler will undergo developmental testing. In the developmental testing, your toddler will do some tasks alone, and some with you. 

At the follow-up visit, you will participate in your child’s developmental testing. You will also complete surveys about yourself and your baby. 

You and your child will complete a developmental study visit on the Washington University medical campus with study staff and receive another set of surveys. The visit will take approximately 2-3 hours. Additionally, you will be compensated $75 for this visit and $50 after completing all surveys.

Your toddler will undergo developmental testing. In the developmental testing, your toddler will do some tasks alone, and some with you. 

At the follow-up visit, you will participate in your child’s developmental testing. You will also complete surveys about yourself and your baby. 

In the six-year follow-up visit, we will be obtaining questionnaire and assessment data from you and your child.

Your toddler will undergo developmental testing.

You will complete surveys.

A magnetic resonance image (MRI) scan will be performed to take structural pictures of your toddler’s brain. 

The MRI scan contains a table which your toddler will lie down on while they are sleeping. Your toddler’s head and shoulder will be in a plastic head coil that will make it easier to lie still. The table is then moved into a large cylinder, and the MRI scanner uses a magnet to take pictures of the brain. The scanner makes loud noises, so we will provide your toddler with earplugs and headphones. Your toddler will be allowed to take breaks and communicate with staff during the MRI scan. The actual MRI scan will take approximately 60 minutes. If your toddler is unable to finish the scan, we will work with you to schedule another visit to complete it.

After completing both the practice and actual MRI scan, we will compensate you $100 for your participation.

1. Play the white noise that your child will hear in the scanner during your child’s nap or bedtime. You can increase the volume of the sound as  your child becomes more accustomed to it. See the audio file below

2. Practice putting the ear plugs that we mailed you in your child’s ears. Here is the video that describes how to do it:

3. For more information about your child’s MRI, feel free to watch this video. Some parts of the video are relevant and others aren’t, but hopefully it will give you a better sense of how the process will work. 

In the nine/ten-year follow-up visit, we will be obtaining questionnaire and assessment data from you and your child. We would like to use this data for studies going on right now, as well as studies that are conducted in the future. 

As part of the research study, you will be asked to complete a self-administered interview about your child’s behavior and development, and a brief questionnaire about your health. 

Your child will undergo developmental assessments, as well as a special examination to take pictures of your child’s brain using a magnetic resonance image (MRI) scan. The developmental testing and MRI imaging will take approximately four hours to complete. After the completion of your nine/ten-year follow up, you will be compensated $200 for your participation, and your child will receive a small gift.

Your child’s developmental testing will be videotaped, as it is necessary for the tester to review the video after testing for scoring purposes. The tests may assist in recognizing areas of strength and challenges that your child may be facing. This part of the follow up should last two and a half hours.

Additionally, we would like to understand if your child’s development is related to services you or your family received while in the study. To do this, we will ask to access service records from early childhood support services, such as through the Missouri Department of Social Services.

You have already completed a questionnaire about your child’s development, your family, your home life, your health, and your child’s health. As stated above, in this follow-up visit, you will be asked to complete a self-administered interview about your child’s behavior and development, as well as a brief questionnaire about your health. Your involvement will last approximately two and a half hours.

We would also like to ask your child’s teacher to fill out a brief questionnaire. This questionnaire will ask questions about your child’s behavioral functioning in the classroom setting, and their overall development. The teacher’s responses to these questions will be coded to protect their confidentiality and your child’s confidentiality.

A magnetic resonance image (MRI) scan will be performed to take structural pictures of your child’s brain. Before the actual scan, you and your child will first undergo a practice MRI scan to become familiar with the scanning procedures. The practice MRI scan will last about 20-30 minutes. If your child is unable to complete the practice MRI scan, the research team may decide not to complete the full MRI scan. 

The MRI scan contains a table which your child will lie down on. Your child’s head and shoulder will be in a plastic head coil that will make it easier to lie still. The table is then moved into a large cylinder, and the MRI scanner uses a magnet to take pictures of the brain. The scanner makes loud noises, so we will provide your child with earplugs and headphones. Your child will be allowed to take breaks and communicate with staff during the MRI scan. The actual MRI scan will take approximately 60 minutes. If your child is unable to finish the scan, we will work with you to schedule another visit to complete it.

After completing both the practice and actual MRI scan, we will compensate you $100 for your participation.

You can watch this video to learn more about what to expect at the MRI scan.

In the 14/15-year follow-up visit, we will be obtaining questionnaire and assessment data from you and your child. We would like to use this data for studies going on right now, as well as studies that are conducted in the future. 

As part of the research study, you will be asked to complete a self-administered interview about your child’s behavior and development, and a brief questionnaire about your health. 

Your child will undergo developmental assessments, as well as a special examination to take pictures of your child’s brain using a magnetic resonance image (MRI) scan. The developmental testing and MRI imaging will take approximately four hours to complete. After the completion of your nine/ten-year follow up, you will be compensated $200 for your participation, and your child will receive compensation of $50 for completing their own surveys.

Your child’s developmental testing will be videotaped, as it is necessary for the tester to review the video after testing for scoring purposes. The tests may assist in recognizing areas of strength and challenges that your child may be facing. This part of the follow up should last two and a half hours.

Additionally, we would like to understand if your child’s development is related to services you or your family received while in the study. To do this, we will ask to access service records from early childhood support services, such as through the Missouri Department of Social Services.

You have already completed a questionnaire about your child’s development, your family, your home life, your health, and your child’s health. As stated above, in this follow-up visit, you will be asked to complete a self-administered interview about your child’s behavior and development, as well as a brief questionnaire about your health. Your involvement will last approximately two and a half hours.

We would also like to ask your child’s teacher to fill out a brief questionnaire. This questionnaire will ask questions about your child’s behavioral functioning in the classroom setting, and their overall development. The teacher’s responses to these questions will be coded to protect their confidentiality and your child’s confidentiality.

A magnetic resonance image (MRI) scan will be performed to take structural pictures of your child’s brain. Before the actual scan, you and your child will first undergo a practice MRI scan to become familiar with the scanning procedures. The practice MRI scan will last about 20-30 minutes. If your child is unable to complete the practice MRI scan, the research team may decide not to complete the full MRI scan. 

The MRI scan contains a table which your child will lie down on. Your child’s head and shoulder will be in a plastic head coil that will make it easier to lie still. The table is then moved into a large cylinder, and the MRI scanner uses a magnet to take pictures of the brain. The scanner makes loud noises, so we will provide your child with earplugs and headphones. Your child will be allowed to take breaks and communicate with staff during the MRI scan. The actual MRI scan will take approximately 60 minutes. If your child is unable to finish the scan, we will work with you to schedule another visit to complete it.

After completing both the practice and actual MRI scan, we will compensate you $100 for your participation.

You can watch this video to learn more about what to expect at the MRI scan.