Autism

Transcript

Children with autism often have trouble interacting or communicating with others.

I’m Brandis Griffith with your research minute.

Researchers at the University of Kansas may have found a way to detect autism at an earlier age – and by starting interventions sooner, some of those behavioral problems that show up during childhood could be prevented.

In a recent study, they observed whether a child’s pupils dilated or constricted when looking at pictures of toys, landscapes, animal faces and other children’s faces.

Professor John Colombo says the children with autism reacted most to faces of other children.

“With pupillary constriction, which suggests they may have found it aversive, really, really over arousing, almost, or they may not have been processing it at all.”

Colombo says his next study will look into what in the children’s brains makes them react the way they did.

For more information, log on to researchminute.ku.edu.

From the University of Kansas, I’m Brandis Griffith.

Tell Me More

In their eyes: These images could help KU researchers detect autism

LAWRENCE — A recent University of Kansas research study may have found a clue to detecting autism in children at an earlier age. Early identification is considered important to provide intervention earlier in life and maybe prevent some of the behaviors associated with autism later during childhood.

Read the full press release
Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies