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Early autism detection with ASDetect.

Designed for parents and caregivers of children aged 11 to 30 months, ASDetect is based on research conducted at the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre at La Trobe University, Australia. The autism surveillance method developed in this research is 83% accurate, which is more than 13 times more accurate than the next best tool. Available in English, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish.


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THE SOCIAL ATTENTION AND COMMUNICATION STUDY (2006 - 2016)

The research behind ASDetect

World-class

  • Over a decade of community-based research
  • Two large-scale studies with more than 30,000 children
  • 350 trained Maternal and Child Health nurses
  • Based on a developmental surveillance tool adopted globally in South Korea, Japan, Poland, Bangladesh and China

The evidence underpinning ASDetect is drawn from research undertaken by Dr Josephine Barbaro, PhD, who is program leader for the early detection and diagnosis of autism at the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre at La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.

During the Social Attention and Communication Study (SACS), Dr Barbaro trained 350 Maternal and Child Health nurses to monitor the social attention and communication behaviours of more than 30,000 children aged 12 to 24 months of age, across two large scale studies beginning in 2007.


 

A highly accurate tool

In these studies, 81% of children who were identified as having a high likelihood for autism by Maternal and Child Health nurses, did in fact have autism. Early identification of children with a high likelihood of autism means that parents and caregivers have the best chance of  helping their child to reach their full potential.

“All typically developing babies are pre-wired to be social, look at other people’s faces, learn from them and copy what they’re doing. Children with autism are not doing this – and we can now accurately identify this at a much younger age and take action,” Dr Barbaro said.

Through this comprehensive study, Dr Barbaro has developed an accurate set of ‘red flag’ markers of ASD, which form the basis of the assessments in ASDetect. These ‘red flags’ relate to the following behaviours in young children:

  • making consistent eye contact with others
  • smiling in response to being smiled at
  • showing their toys to others
  • play social games
  • drawing other people’s attention by pointing, and
  • responding when their name is called.

Evidence-based

The complete academic papers by Dr Josephine Barbaro and Professor Cheryl Dissanayake discussing the first SACS program were published in 2010 and 2013 and are available on PubMed, or you can email us at ask@asdetect.org for a copy. The results of the second SACS program are currently being collected.
2010 PAPER
2013 PAPER

Listen to Dr Barbaro discuss early detection

Podcast on iTunes and SoundCloud


Watch Dr Barbaro giving an overview of her work in early detection
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(Part of La Trobe Univerity’s Big Fat Ideas series.)

 


What makes ASDetect so unique?

WHAT IS ASDETECT?

Comprehensive video-led assessments

ASDetect guides parents through the assessment questions using specially produced videos. There are videos of children both with and without autism. Each one shows a development milestone, and some questions also have activities that you can do with your child to help you answer the question.

Accurate assessment methodology

This video-led self-assessment app is based on comprehensive, rigorous, world-class research conducted at the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre. The assessment method underlying this app is 83% accurate in the early detection of autism.
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Why early detection matters

While you might feel upset to learn that your child has a high likelihood of autism, this knowledge can empower you to help them reach their full potential.
Young children are constantly learning. Much of their learning comes from interaction with other people: their parents, caregivers, other children and even strangers. In response to this interaction, this child’s brain is being moulded. We call this brain plasticity.

The power of early intervention:

In autism a child’s ability to learn from others is affected. But if the early signs of autism are recognised, then parents and caregivers can change the way they interact with the child. We call this early intervention.

Early intervention can be delivered:

  • In one-on-one sessions by health professionals such as speech pathologists, occupational therapists and,
  • psychologists, or
  • By the parents/caregivers, after training from health professionals.

  • We know from our research that early detection:
  • Reduces parental and family stress
  • Allows parents to begin seeking services and professional support earlier
  • Equips parents to help their child before the child’s symptoms become unmanageable.
  • Built on evidence based research.

    Uniquely underwhelm premium outsourcing with proactive leadership skills.

    The Social Attention and Communication Study (SACS), on which this application is based, has been remarkably accurate in detecting autism. In our studies, 83% of children who were identified as having a high likelihood for autism by Maternal Child Health nurses, did in fact have autism. Many of the remaining children who were assessed with a high likelihood had other related developmental conditions, such as language or developmental delays.

    The complete academic papers by Dr Josephine Barbaro and Professor Cheryl Dissanayake discussing the first SACS program were published in 2010 and 2013 and are available on PubMed, or you can email us at ask@asdetect.org for a copy. The results of the second SACS program are currently being collected.

    2010 PAPER

    2013 PAPER

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    Download

    ASDetect is a free app that empowers parents to assess their young children for early signs of autism.

    • For children 2½ years and younger (between 11 and 30 months)
    • Based on research with an 81% accuracy for detecting autism
    • Features extensive video footage of children both with and without autism
    • Contains 3 age-appropriate assessments for children aged 12, 18 and 24 months
    • Based on world-class, rigorous research at the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre

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    Using ASDetect is easy

    • 1
      Sign up as a parent or caregiver

      Enter your name and email address.

    • 2
      Enter your child's details

      Your child's date of birth will prompt ASDetect to display the appropriate assessment: 12 months, 18 months or 24 months.

    • 3
      Complete an assessment

      Watch the videos and then answer each question 'mostly' or 'rarely'. An assessment takes between 20 and 30 minutes.

    • 4
      Review your answers

      You can watch videos again and change your answers if required.

    • 5
      Submit your answers and view results

      You'll receive an on-screen result of either'high' or 'low' likelihood, as well as a comprehensive results email.

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    OUR TEAM
    FAQ

    Frequently Asked Questions

    q+a How sensitive is ASDetect?
    q+a My child was born prematurely; should I put in their actual birth date or their adjusted birth date?
    q+a Can ASDetect be installed on iPads?
    q+a My child was assessed by ASDetect as “low likelihood” for autism, but he/she got a number of atypical results; what should I do?
    q+a My child has been assessed by ASDetect as ‘high likelihood” for autism; what should I do?
    q+a ASDetect said that my child had a “high likelihood” for autism, but following a formal assessment no autism diagnosis was made; why is this?
    q+a Can I also use ASDetect to check my older child’s development?
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    Download Anywhere

    Available for all major mobile and desktop platforms. Rapidiously visualize optimal ROI rather than enterprise-wide methods of empowerment.

    *Works on iOS 10.0.5+, Android Kitkat and above.


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    Parent resources

    Promoting social attention, interaction and communication skills.

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