Scientists Able to Detect Individuals with Autism Early
A discovery occurred, where a scientist from Hong Kong managed to find a way to detect early Autism or the risk of Autism. This technology uses machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to scan the retinas of children as young as 6 years old. By utilizing this artificial intelligence technology, it is hoped that it can be used as a commercial device this year.
Before knowing more, it's good for us to know what Autism is. Autism is a brain development disorder that affects a person's ability to communicate and interact with others. In addition, Autism can also cause behavioral disorders.
Also Read: How to Manage Individuals with Autism During Puberty?
Autism is currently referred to as Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or, in English, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The designation describes the symptoms, and the severity varies in each individual. ASD includes Asperger's, pervasive developmental disorder (PPD-NOS), and childhood disintegrative disorder.
"Retinal eye scans can help improve early detection (of autism) and treatment outcomes for children," said Benny Zee, a Chinese University of Hong Kong professor. With this retinal eye scanner technology, it is hoped that it can help detect it as early as possible. He assesses the importance of intervention as early as possible because children are still growing and developing, so the chances of success in preventing Autism are greater.
This retinal eye scanner was developed using a high-resolution camera with the latest computer software that can analyze various factors such as the fiber layer and blood vessels in the eye.
Testing 70 Children
Testing this retinal eye scanner technology takes 70 children, of which 46 are children with Autism, and 24 other children are included in the monitoring group. This technology can identify children with Autism up to 95.7%. For ages tested, the average was 13 years, with the youngest being six years. Professor Benny Zee told Reuters his research was intended as an additional tool for assessment by licensed healthcare professionals. As the machine is a fully automated cloud-based algorithm that relies solely on retinal images, it can be used as a risk assessment tool for initial Autism spectrum screening. Professionals can then make a diagnosis and further confirmation, and intervention can be given relatively early.
Professor Zee's findings have also been published in the medical journal Clinical Medicine.
Responses from Autism Specialists
Autism specialists welcomed this discovery from professor Benny Zee. But they still see that there is quite a lot of stigma in a society where parents do not believe that their children have Autism, even if there are clear signs.
"Many times parents will be in denial at first," says Dr Caleb Knight, who runs a private Autism therapy center.
"If you have a medical test or biomarker like this, it can facilitate parents not to deny it for a longer time and therefore the child will get treatment more quickly," he continued.
Based on data from WHO, Autism can occur in 1 in 160 children worldwide in 2019. In Indonesia, no data shows the exact number of individuals with Autism.
It is imperative to be aware of the characteristics of Autism as early as possible because if Autism is not successfully handling it, there are still several methods for dealing with Autism so that children can better adapt to everyday life.
Children with Autism need the trust of all of us so that they, too, can be counted on. They need us who can appreciate their every little effort to be able to change into a better person in social life. We should not feel ashamed in liberating children from Autism. Still, we must be proud because we participate in making changes and creating a better future for children with Autism.
