Georgia SEED - What to Expect

Families who take part in SEED will be asked to:

• Answer questions about their child’s development and the family’s medical history.
• Go to a brief medical examination and developmental testing with their child.
• Give small samples of blood and cheek cells.
• Give a small sample of their child’s hair.
• Give permission to view medical records for mother and child.

 

Phone Calls from Study Staff 

Study staff will call you to:  

• Answer any questions you have about the study or about the materials sent to you in the self-administered packets.
• Schedule follow-up visits with you and your child to complete the remaining parts of the study. Study staff will set up these visits for a time that fits your schedule.

 

Self-Administered Questionnaires

You will be asked to complete questionnaires about your child’s development and your family’s medical history. The questions asked will help us to learn more about autism spectrum disorders  and developmental disabilities. You can complete the questionnaires on your own at home, or we can ask you the questions over the phone or at the study clinic visit.

 

Telephone Interview

• The study staff will set up a time to call to ask questions about your child’s medical history.
• This interview will also include questions about the pregnancy with this child. Only the biological mom will be asked questions about her pregnancy. If someone else completes the interview, certain sections will be skipped.

 

Child Development Evaluation

• Study staff will use a play-based tool called the Mullen Scales of Early Learning to evaluate your child’s development.
• Some children will also be asked to complete the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, another play-based tool. 
• You may be asked questions about your child's development in the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-II and the Autism Diagnostic Inventory-Revised.

 

Clinical Visit (in your home or at a clinic)

We ask that both the primary caregiver and the child come to the initial clinic visit. This visit can be done either in your home or at the study clinic. During this visit study staff will:

• Review the study informed consent with you and ask you to sign it for you and for your child.  
• Review the self-administered packets. If you haven’t already mailed them back, study staff will help you complete the packets and answer any questions you may have about them.
• Conduct a developmental and brief medical evaluation on your child. The study staff will do a visual examination of your child’s features and measure height, weight, and head circumference.  We will invite you to sit with your child during this evaluation.
• We will be collecting three types of biological samples: cheek cells, blood, and hair. We are asking for cheek cells and blood from your child and both biological parents. We are asking for a hair sample from your child only. Biological samples may provide clues that will help us learn more about factors that increase the risk for autism and other developmental disabilities.

NOTE: Neither you nor your child have to provide a blood sample to be in the study. The decision is up to you.

 

If you have questions, contact Georgia SEED via email at georgiaseed@cdc.gov or by phone at 404-498-0058.