HK scientist develops retinal scan technology to identify early
childhood autism
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[March 15, 2021]
By Aleksander Solum
HONG KONG (Reuters) - A Hong Kong scientist
has developed a method to use machine learning and artificial
intelligence to scan retinas of children as young as six to detect early
autism or the risk of autism and hopes to develop a commercial product
this year.
Retinal eye scanning can help to improve early detection and treatment
outcomes for children, said Benny Zee, a professor at the Chinese
University of Hong Kong.
"The importance of starting early intervention is that they are still
growing, they are still developing. So there is a bigger chance of
success," Zee said.
His method uses a high-resolution camera with new computer software
which analyses a combination of factors including fibre layers and blood
vessels in the eye.
The technology can be used to identify children at risk of autism and
get them into treatment programmes sooner, said Zee.
Seventy children were tested using the technology, 46 with autism and a
control group of 24. The technology was able to identify the children
with autism 95.7 percent of the time. The average age tested was 13,
with the youngest being six.
Zee's findings have been published in EClinicalMedicine, a peer-reviewed
medical journal.
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Benny Zee, a scientist from the Chinese University of Hong Kong,
demonstrates retinal eye scanning technology used for early
detection of autism during an interview with Reuters in Hong Kong,
China January 29, 2021. Picture taken January 29, 2021. REUTERS/Aleksander
Solum
Autism specialists welcomed his findings but said there remained a
huge stigma, with parents often reluctant to believe their children
have autism even when there are clear signs.
"Many times, parents will initially be in denial," said Dr Caleb
Knight, who runs a private autism therapy centre.
"If you had a medical test or biological marker like this, it might
facilitate parents not going into denial for longer periods and
therefore the child would get treatment more quickly."
Children with autism have to wait around 80 weeks to see a
specialist in the public medical sector, according to an emailed
statement from Hong Kong's government.
Zee told Reuters that his research is intended to be a supplemental
tool to a professional assessment by licensed healthcare
professionals.
(Reporting by Aleksander Solum; Writing by Farah Master; Editing by
Karishma Singh and Michael Perry)
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