Scientists from the University of Buffalo in New York have developed a new smartphone app that can detect signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a child in less than a minute by tracking his or her eye movements.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, autism spectrum disorder is a neuro-developmental disorder where patients have lasting problems with social interaction and social communication in different settings.
Detecting the autism disorder at an early stage can remarkably improve the benefits of the treatment because the earlier one is diagnosed, the faster the treatment can be started. But the only problem with the disorder detection is that the disability is not usually suspected till a child begins his/her school life, according to the researchers.
According to NatureWorldNews site, the new app works by tracking the eye movements of a child looking at pictures of social scenes. They also noted that the eye movements of a child with ASD may differ from a child without ASD, who has a better focused look toward things and people. The app was found to be accurate by 93.96 per cent. The university press release stated that 1 to 2 people per 1000 worldwide are affected by ASD.
This study was done using 32 children ranging from the age of two to 10.
A time limit of 54 seconds is what the app takes to identify the disorder especially with children who have a short attention span. It can detect the disorder in children as young as two years old.
“Although it’s never too late to start therapy, research demonstrates the earlier we diagnose, the better our outcomes,” said Kathy Ralabate Doody, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Exceptional Education at SUNY Buffalo State College and a co-author of the study. “We offer many educational interventions to help children with autism reach the same developmental milestones met by children with typical development.”
The app being available on smartphones, tablets or computers is of great help especially for parents as they can check in the comforts of their home if their child has autism and needs clinical examination.
The researchers was presented at the IEEE Wireless Health conference in Maryland, U.S., recently.
