Advanced 3-D facial imaging may aid in early detection of autism Autism is a spectrum of closely rel
Advanced 3-D facial imaging may aid in early detection of autism Autism is a spectrum of closely related disorders diagnosed in patients who exhibit a shared core of symptoms, including delays in learning to communicate and interact socially. Early detection of autism in children is the key for treatments to be most effective and produce the best outcomes. Using advanced three-dimensional imaging and statistical analysis techniques, researchers at the University of Missouri have identified facial measurements in children with autism that may lead to a screening tool for young children and provide clues to its genetic causes. “We want to detect the specific facial traits of the face of a child with autism,” said Ye Duan, associate professor of computer science in the College of Engineering at MU. “Doing so might help us define the facial structures common to children with autism and potentially enable early screening for the disorder.” Tayo Obafemi-Ajayi, Judith H. Miles, T. Nicole Takahashi, Wenchuan Qi, Kristina Aldridge, Minqi Zhang, Shi-Qing Xin, Ying He, Ye Duan. Facial Structure Analysis Separates Autism Spectrum Disorders into Meaningful Clinical Subgroups. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, January 2015 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-014-2290-8 Miles was part of the team that helped identify facial measurements in children with autism that may lead to a screening tool for young children and provide clues to its genetic causes. Credit: Rebecca F. Miller -- source link
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