A QUICK hand test could help spot autism in children, experts say.
Scientists noticed small differences in how and non-autistic people move their fingers when doing a simple task.
The test takes just two minutes and looks at how someone grasps an object. It’s said to be 85 per cent accurate.
To create the test, researchers asked autistic and non-autistic people with the same IQ to pick up blocks, of varying sizes. and put it back in the same spot and return their hand to the starting position.
Using artficial intelligence, the experts closely studied the movements.
They discovered non-autistic people adjusted their grip more to precisely match the size of the block.
Meanwhie, those with autism took a slightly longer to completete the entire movement.
Lead author Professor Erez Freud, a psychology expert at York University in Canada, said the results were impressive.
“Our models were able to classify autism with approximately 85 per cent accuracy, suggesting this approach could potentially offer simpler, scalable tools for diagnosis,”; he said.
Autism can affect people in several different ways, including how they communicate, interact socially, and process information.
Many autistic people may struggle with things like understanding social cues, holding conversations, or dealing with loud noises or changes in routine.
It can also affect motor skills.
Some may find tasks like writing, using cutlery, or catching a ball more difficult.
Movements might be slower or less coordinated, and fine motor control – like picking up small objects – can be harder than usual.
The researchers, who shared their findings in the journal Autism Research, said looking at how people move their hands could be a quicker and easier way to help spot autism.
“Autism currently affects about one in 50 Canadian children, and timely, accessible diagnosis remains a major challenge,”; ProfessorErezadded.
“Our findings add to the growing body of research suggesting that subtle motor patterns may provide valuable diagnostic signals – something not yet widely leveraged in clinical practice.”;
It comes as autism diagnosis waiting lists in England hit a record high.
The latest NHS figures, from December 2023, show 172,022 people were waiting for an assessment – up 47 per cent from the year before.
If you’re interested in being evaluated for autism, begin with your family doctor, who will evaluate you to be certain that there isn’t an underlying physical illness accounting for your behaviours.
Your doctor may refer you to a psychiatrist orfor in-depth assessment.
