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Apr 3, 2007 2:05 am US/Pacific
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New UC Davis Test May Hasten Autism Diagnosis
SACRAMENTO (CBS 5) ―
Researchers have discovered that something as simple as calling out a baby's name to see if he or she responds could be the first step in early diagnosis of autism.
"If a child fails the test at 12 months, they're highly likely to have some abnormal developmental outcome that could probably respond to therapy," said Dr. Sally Ozonoff, a professor at the University of California, Davis' M.I.N.D. institute.
Believing there may be a genetic link, researchers tested babies whose siblings had autism. They would call the baby's name once, wait three seconds, then do it again.
The UC Davis study found that 70 percent of the children later diagnosed with autism had failed the test sometime between 12 and 18 months of age.
Looking back, Liz and Peter Bell remembered this behavior in their son Tyler and wish they'd known what it meant. Tyler, now 14, was diagnosed only after his parents pushed doctors to pay attention.
"At his second year well-check, where we started to express concerns with pediatrician," Peter Bell said, "it took a year to get a definitive diagnosis."
The hope is that pediatricians now will incorporate this test into regular check-ups. Earlier detection means earlier treatment.
"Sometimes you wonder what would have happened if we had started at 2, when we first had initial concerns," Peter Bell said.
Three-year-old Avi Pandit of Cupertino reads at bedtime, exhibiting no signs of autism to the untrained eye. Diagnosed at 18 months, Avi was in his own world, according to his mother, Rajul Pandit.
"He was doing his own thing, being obsessed with spinning objects," she said.
Because he got help before his behavioral patterns set in, Avi's doctors say he is now a "high functioning autistic." His family is optimistic he'll be able to go to school with other kids his age.
Early intervention -- for a child less than 3 years old -- is free in California. Avi got help from the program called "Early Start." Specialists in the program put him through 25 hours a week of therapy.
"He's the best we could hope for," said his father, Par Pandit. "He's talking. He's verbal. He has proper balance."
Right now, most treatment for autism is geared for children. The UC Davis researchers are testing therapies for babies as young as 12 months old.
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