Saudi Hospital Announces Revolutionary Innovative for Autism Screening
Using eye-tracking technology
King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC) has been granted a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and scored in the top 25 percent of innovations in its field worldwide for its novel method of screening for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using eye-tracking technology.
The patent, titled “Method and system for screening for autism spectrum disorder using eye-tracking data”, was awarded to a team of researchers led by Dr. Mohammed Al-Muhaizea, Consultant and Head of the Genetics Division at KFSH&RC.
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The technology, which is the first of its kind involves measuring the eye movements of children aged between 18 and 36 months while they watch videos curated to evoke social and non-social responses. The eye-tracking results are then analyzed using machine learning algorithms to identify patterns that indicate the presence or absence of ASD.
The method differs from traditional and personal screening methods and it is based on the premise that children with ASD have different distinct patterns of eye gaze compared to children developing within the same age, especially when it comes to social stimuli, such as faces and emotions. By detecting these differences, the method can provide a fast, accurate, and non-invasive way of screening for ASD at an early age, which can enable early intervention and improve the outcomes for children with ASD.
The patent is the result of years of research and collaboration between KFSH&RC and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), as well as international partners from the US, Canada, and the UK.
The team has conducted several clinical trials to validate the method, involving more than 1,000 children from Saudi Arabia and other countries. The results have shown that the method has a high sensitivity and specificity, as well as a good agreement with the gold standard diagnostic tools for ASD.
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By overcoming the lengthy and subjective nature of current ASD diagnosis methods, KFSH&RC’s approach facilitates early detection and more effective treatment, enhancing patient quality of life and reducing the burdens on healthcare and educational institutions.
It is the first-of-its-kind technique designed specifically for the Saudi population, enhancing KFSH&RC’s global medical standing.
It marks more than just a significant leap forward in objective ASD screening; it represents a transformative moment for accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity during the assessment and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders.
The team hopes that the patent will pave the way for the commercialization and dissemination of the method, which can benefit millions of children and families affected by ASD around the world.
