Currently, specialists are using what may be considered ‘methods of the past’ to diagnose children with various autism disorders.
While autism cases are growing faster than any other disorder among children, an effective testing method has yet to be developed.
A new study may suggest otherwise.
Researchers believe that analyzing how a child’s brain works while they are an infant may suggest various risk factors of whether or not an autism disorder may develop.
For the study, an EEG device (electroencephalography) was used on children. The device measures activity throughout the brain.
More than 70 babies were monitored for 18 months, from 6 months old until 24 months old.
Researchers discovered that children who had an older sibling with an autism disorder had different brain wave patterns than children with seemingly no autism risks.
Current diagnostic methods evaluate a child after they turn 2, but experts suggest earlier diagnosis may help effectively treat the disorder.
Experts explain that at just 9 months old, some children started exhibiting what could be considered abnormal activity in social development and language ability.
Researchers believe these new findings could revolutionize the way autism is diagnosed and treated.