Can AI Technology Help Tackle Disparities in Autism Diagnosis ?
By David Happel , MBA
Will artificial intelligence soon play a part in diagnosing autism spectrum disorder ?
For children with autism and their families , early diagnosis and interventions can play a big role in improving development and longterm health . An early diagnosis typically results in earlier access to clinical , behavioral , educational , and social services that a child and family may need . But many families — particularly those in rural , low-income , and minority communities — face long delays in receiving diagnoses and services . These delays can greatly affect the progress of a child ’ s behavioral and brain development with life-long consequences .
A quarter of children under age eight living with autism are currently undiagnosed , according to a recent study by Rutgers University Professor Walter