Speech patterns 'could help diagnose autism in children'
Wednesday 21st July 2010
New research has found that the speech patterns of young children could be used to help diagnose autism.
The findings of a group of US scientists were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Led by D. Kimbrough Oller, PhD, audiology speech language pathology, of the University of Memphis, researchers consistently noticed differences between the speech patterns of children developing normally and those with autism.
232 children aged between ten months and four years were recorded in their homes as they played and these recordings were analysed for the study.
The ability to form syllables was highlighted as the biggest difference between children with autism and those who had developed normally.
Researchers have come up with a computer system to analyse sound patterns, rather than language, which could allow the technology to be used all over the world.
Study co-researcher Steven F. Warren explained that it could become a valuable tool in autism diagnosis.
"This technology could help paediatricians to screen children for autism spectrum disorders to determine if a referral to a specialist for a full diagnosis is required," he stated.
According to the National Autistic Society, more than half a million people in the UK have been diagnosed with autism.
Written by Martin Lambert
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