An Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Early Diagnostic Support Tool
Early is everything in child development.
What is ASD?
Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD, is a developmental disability caused by differences in an individual's brain. ASD may be characterized by difficulty socializing and interacting - people with ASD may have atypical ways of learning and communicating with others. Attributes of ASD may be displayed as children, but people are often not diagnosed until later in life.
Why does early detection matter?
The need for ASD screenings continues to grow - half of the children in the United States are being screened for ASD, with almost 5 million children at risk of developmental delays. Research has shown that early diagnosis and intervention have a greater long-term, positive impact on children with ASD due to childhood brain plasticity and the ability to adapt during the formative, early years of life. Therapies such applied behavioral analysis (ABA) are often accessible and covered by insurance only for those with an official ASD diagnosis. The sooner a child can access support, the better the chances for learning and progress that may benefit them later in life.
Why eye-tracking technology?
Clinical research has shown the eye movement behavior of children with ASD tends to differ from neurotypical children, such as focusing on objects rather than faces. Studies reveal that atypical social visual engagement can be observed within the first six months of an infant’s life. our project aims to explore the connection between eye-pattern observations and their the probability of ASD diagnosis later in childhood. By tracking a child’s eye scan-path, we strive to make a difference in the life of children with autism by accelerating their ASD diagnostic process
Process Overview
