By U-T San Diego 6 a.m.Dec. 11, 2013
Eye contact during early infancy may be a key to early identification of autism, according to a study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, part of the National Institutes of Health.
The study, which was published recently in the journal Nature, reveals the earliest sign of developing autism ever observed a steady decline in attention to others eyes within the first two to six months of life, the NIMH release stated.
Autism isnt usually diagnosed until after age 2, when delays in a childs social behavior and language skills become apparent, Dr. Thomas R. Insel, director of the NIMH, said in the release. The study shows that children exhibit clear signs of autism at a much younger age. The sooner we are able to identify early markers for autism, the more effective our treatment interventions can be.
To find out how this deficit in eye contact emerges in children with autism, Drs. Warren Jones and Ami Klin, of the Marcus Autism Center, Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine, followed infants from birth to age 3. The infants were divided into two groups based on their risk for developing an autism spectrum disorder. Those in the high-risk group had an older sibling already diagnosed with autism; those in the low-risk group did not, the release stated.
In infants later diagnosed with autism, we see a steady decline in how much they look at moms eyes, Jones said.
According to the press release, the next step for Jones and Klin is to translate this finding into a viable tool for use in the clinic. With support from the NIH Autism Centers of Excellence program, more babies and families are being enrolled in studies.
Avoid extra holiday pounds
Be wise when choosing appetizers. A small portion of some appetizers may help you from overeating at dinner.
Avoid sauces made from cream, half-and-half or meat drippings. For salads, use oil and vinegar, vinaigrette or low-fat dressings. Broth-based or vegetable sauces are fine.
Read more from the original source:
Eye contact may be a key to early detection of autism