Children with autism have different speech patterns, and they even babble differently as infants. By attaching a recording device to the clothing of infants and very young children, clinicians will soon be able to determine which children have autism.
The device, known as LENA or Learning Environment Analysis, was developed by Infoture, Inc., which became the nonprofit LENA Foundation. LENA devices not only record speech patterns, but they also analyze them to create vocal profiles of children.
"A small number of studies have previously suggested that children with autism have a markedly different vocal signature," said Professor Stephen Warren of the University of Kansas. "Until now we have been held back from using this knowledge in clinical applications from the lack of measurement technology."
The average child is diagnosed with autism at age 5.7 years old, according to Dr. Warren. LENA could produce a diagnosis in children as young as 18 months.
Labels: autism
Posted By: Aspen Education Group