Technologies

Summary

Problem or Unmet Need:
Current autism diagnosis methods are subjective processes typically based on behavioral observations taken at relatively late stages in a child's development. This is largely due to a general definition of autism that comprises a broad range of symptoms, many of which are detected through assessments of a child's speech and social skills. A method by which autism could be objectively detected at an early stage of life would facilitate earlier, more effective, treatment regimes.
This invention describes an imaging method for early, objective diagnosis of autism in children possibly as young as 2-3 years of age. It utilizes a combination of widely accepted imaging techniques to generate functional images of a child's brain during auditory stimulation. Images taken from autistic individuals exhibit several distinct traits when compared to control individuals known to be non-autistic. The technique is ideal for very young individuals who may not have established speaking ability as it uses a series of familiar auditory stimuli to assess brain response.