Eye-Tracking Device Shows Promise in Speeding up Autism Diagnosis

An innovative technology that measures children's eye movements while watching social interaction movies may speed up autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, according to a study.

The EarliPoint Evaluation gadget, which obtained FDA approval last year, can reliably diagnose autism in infants as young as 16 months old, according to two concurrent investigations that were published in JAMA and JAMA Network Open, as reported by NBC News. The technology compares a child's gaze with usual behavior for their age while tracking eye movements 120 times per second.

Because there are few autism specialists, clinical observation is used to diagnose the condition, which causes significant wait periods. The new technology makes early autism diagnosis more accessible by providing findings in as little as 30 minutes.

Warren Jones, director of research at the Marcus Autism Center at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, who is the study's lead author, emphasized the importance of early diagnosis. It's crucial to spot autistic children before they are three, according to Jones. Although therapy may help children flourish at any age, research has shown that children who are diagnosed earlier have better long-term results.

How Does It Work?

To gauge a child's reaction to films of social interactions, the device employs eye tracking. Children who are typically developing pay attention to the conversation's relevant details, such as hand movements and facial expressions. On the other hand, judging by their eye movements, children with autism might not be aware of these signals.

In one study, 475 children between the ages of 16 and 30 months had their autistic symptoms evaluated at specialized clinics. Comparing the eye-tracking technique to a professional clinical diagnosis revealed a 71% sensitivity and an 80.7% specificity. Another eye-tracking research of 719 children aged 16-30 months reported 81.9% sensitivity and 89.9% specificity. The method offers 80% sensitivity and specificity, according to the data.

Researchers say a biomarker for autism might speed up early intervention and substantially reduce diagnostic time.

A Promising Tool But More Studies Needed

Ami Klin, director of the Marcus Autism Center, expressed optimism that this impartial "biomarker-based" tool might enhance access to early diagnosis and assistance, especially for impoverished groups. Klin said, as quoted by a CNN report, "My greatest hope is that this is going to be one of the tools that we can use to decrease the healthcare disparities that affect minority, low-income, and rural families."

Although promising, Geraldine Dawson of the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development comments in a linked editorial that further research is needed to evaluate the eye-tracking test's therapeutic efficacy.

"Future studies will need to assess how feasible, acceptable, reliable, and efficient the eye-tracking test is when used by clinicians as an aid in autism diagnosis in practice," she wrote, as quoted by Disability Scoop.