Story perspectives

New Eye-Tracking Tech Aims to Predict Autism Early

8/24/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Early intervention is crucial for autism, yet many children receive late diagnoses.
Clinical trials for an eye-tracking device to predict autism in infants will start this year, raising ethical concerns.
Positive assessments may lead to stigma and unnecessary interventions, with no proven treatments for infants under 12 months.
The device could enable earlier identification during checkups, but the term "risk" may mislead parents.
Policymakers need to consider insurance and privacy issues as predictive technologies enter pediatric care.

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Story summary

Early intervention is crucial for autism, yet many children receive late diagnoses.
Clinical trials for an eye-tracking device to predict autism in infants will start this year, raising ethical concerns.
Positive assessments may lead to stigma and unnecessary interventions, with no proven treatments for infants under 12 months.
The device could enable earlier identification during checkups, but the term "risk" may mislead parents.
Policymakers need to consider insurance and privacy issues as predictive technologies enter pediatric care.