New Early Diagnostic Test for Autism

Technology Description

Early identification of autism is critical for early treatment, and currently there are no good medical procedures for early diagnosis. Early screening tools utilize questionnaires filled out by caregivers. This invention teaches a new, rapid, early diagnostic test for autism. Utilizing moving geometric patterns or moving social images on a screen or monitor, a patient as young as 8 to 10 months of age will gaze at either the pattern or the social images. If the patient looks at the geometric images for 69 percent or more of the time, the patient is diagnosed with autism. The advantages of this test is that it is rapid, taking about a minute to conduct; it is objective rather than subjective; can be used at very early ages; can be used for any race, language, ethnicity; does not require a third party to score and interpret.

State Of Development

Prototype has been developed and tested.

Related Materials

• Pierce K, Conant D, Hazin R, Stoner R, Desmond J. Preference for Geometric Patterns Early in Life as a Risk Factor for Autism. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2011 Jan;68(1):101-9. Epub 2010 Sep 6.
• K. Pierce, D. Conant, R. Hazin, J. Desmond, R. Stoner (2010) A Preference for Geometric Patterns Early in Life as a Risk Factor for Autism. International Meeting for Autism Research Annual Conference. (Thursday, May 20).