Canadian researchers make autism diagnosis at 9 months: study
15.05.2008 23:01
Health
- Source: cbc.ca
An early diagnostic test for autism could soon be available, according to Canadian researchers, who say they can detect autism in children as young as nine months. Lead researcher Mel Rutherford, associate professor of psychology in the faculty of science at McMaster, is presenting her findings Friday at the 7th Annual International Meeting for Autism Research in London, England. Rutherford heads a small study that focuses on tracking infants' and children's eye direction when they look at different people and objects on a computer screen. She said this eye-tracker technology can pinpoint autism in a youngster in as little time as 10 minutes. Currently, the earliest diagnostic test for the neurological condition is performed at age two. "What's important about this study is now we can distinguish between a group of siblings with autism from a group with no autism — at nine months and at 12 months," said Rutherford, in a release. "I can do this in 10 minutes, and it is objective, meaning that the only measure is eye direction; it's not influenced by a clinician's report or intuition." "Nobody's been able to distinguish between these groups at so early an age." The study's participants are siblings of children with autism, who are considered at high risk of developing the condition. They are tested four times in their first year—at three, six, nine and 12 months of age. The findings are compared to a low-risk control group of infants and toddlers. During the testing, infants watch images on a computer screen. The directness of their gaze, its duration and the movements of their faces are tracked. At two year of age, the children return for an outcome measures test to compare with the earlier findings. Many health experts feel that early diagnosis is critical in treating children with autism. "Developing a tool for the early detection of autism would have profound effects on people with autism, their parents, family members and future generations of those at risk of developing autism," said Rutherford. Story Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKRelatedInternal LinksMontrealers to study genetic factors in autismGene may increase autism risk: studyIN DEPTH: AutismHealth HeadlinesCanadian researchers make autism diagnosis at 9 months: study00An early diagnostic test for autism could soon be available, according to Canadian researchers, who say they can detect autism in children as young as nine months.Canadians' drug spending on the rise, CIHI says00Spending on prescription and non-prescription drugs in Canada reached $26.9 billion last year, an increase of 7.2 per cent over 2006, according to data released Thursday. Health Canada issues warning about Trophic's Kelp product00Health Canada has issued a warning to consumers about the Trophic brand natural health product labelled "Kelp and Glutamic Acid HCI" because of high levels of iodine. U.S. court overturns verdict in Vioxx case00A Texas court has overturned a multimillion-dollar verdict against Merck and Company, the former maker of Vioxx. Overworked, unsupported nurses more likely to report drug errors00Nurses who worked in hospitals that were understaffed or had inadequate resources were most likely to report medication mistakes, a new survey finds. Health FeaturesENVIRONMENTClassifying chemicals'Batch 2' up for reviewCONSUMERCalorie trackerVIDEODisaster diseasesClean water critical (Runs 4:44)HEALTHOsteoporosisWhy men should worry about bone lossHEALTHLightning ProcessControversial training program comes to CanadaPeople who read this also read …
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