Toward Early Autism Assessment: A Motor Analysis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigation of motor and behavioural patterns through play in children with autism and children developing typically.
IRAS ID
169486
Contact name
Maria Ferrara
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Strathclyde
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental psychological disorder that can be difficult to assess in the early years of a child’s life. New evidence indicates movement may provide a novel route to early ASD assessment. In this project, two games will be employed to record the movements of children aged 2 to 6 years old as they play: two screen-based educational games on an iPad device and one toy-based game using sensorised cubes or pegs. Computational analyses of gameplay patterns will be performed. Preliminary analyses of these patterns differentiate children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from those developing typically (TD) with approximately 80% accuracy. In this study, we will improve the gameplay analysis techniques used in the preliminary study and we will assess the game play patterns of 100 children with ASD and 200 TD children. Analysis of these play patterns will test the efficacy of this game play to discriminate ASD from TD patterns, and yield insights into the motor expression of the disorder. Children's parents will fill in AQ-Child and Vineland-II questionnaires, including information about the child’s age, gender, experience in using mobile devices, and treatments received. Permission will be sought to access their child’s Paediatric assessments (CPIG) and Diagnostic Reports to confirm their diagnoses, including severity of autistic symptoms and where present, co-morbidities. On the day of experiment, each child will engage with the Chief Investigator in a quiet room to (i) undertake a Leiter scale IQ test and (ii) play the iPad game-based educational applications and/or sensorised toys (cubes and/or pegs). Data from tablet's sensors and from the toys will be collected. Movement patterns will be analysed by machine learning algorithms and kinematic analyses. The patterns produced by children with ASD will be compared to those produced by TD children.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
15/WS/0075
Date of REC Opinion
28 May 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion