A tablet-based app called SenseToKnow, developed by researchers at Duke University, could help address disparities in autism spectrum disorder diagnoses related to gender, race, and ethnicity, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Unlike traditional parent questionnaires used for diagnosis, the app involves toddlers watching short movies and records their behavioural responses to onscreen stimuli, analysing factors such as facial expressions, blink rate, head movement, and attention span.
In a study involving 475 toddlers, the app demonstrated an 87.8% sensitivity in identifying children with autism and an 80.8% specificity in ruling out those without the condition. Combining app results with parent surveys improved the accuracy of autism screening to 63.4%.
The app's effectiveness was consistent across gender, race, and ethnicity, but specificity was lower among Black children at 54%. Further research is planned to assess the app's performance across different demographics, with the aim of improving autism screening and reducing disparities in access to diagnosis and intervention.
However, the study emphasises that proper training and systematic implementation by healthcare providers are essential for the accurate use of such screening tools.
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