Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorders Using Auditory Brainstem Responses

Screening Device for Autism Spectrum Disorders Using High Stimulation Rate ABR With Continuous Loop Averaging Deconvolution

The purpose of this study is to develop an Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) based neurological screening method to detect increased risk for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and other neurological conditions in newborns.

In the proposed study, a screening method for neurological deficits, with an emphasis on its application to ASD, will be developed and its feasibility demonstrated. The proposed method will utilize high rate stimulation to acquire Auditory Brainstem Responses in order to determine peak latency and amplitude differences in children with ASD compared to non-ASD. Similarly to newborn hearing screening, the output of the screening method will provide an automated pass or refer outcome that can be used by a physician to determine if the child needs further evaluation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children with autism spectrum disorder diagnosis
• Normally developing age- and gender-matched controls

Exclusion Criteria:

• Permanent or temporary hearing loss at the time of testing.
• Craniofacial abnormalities