BookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxFilledCheckBoxCircleBumpCheckedFilledMedical

Routine Hearing Test Could Detect Autism in Newborns, Study Says

New analytics added to routine ABR hearing tests could be used to create a universal screening tool for autism, allowing for earlier, life-changing support and interventions.
save article
profile picture of Wyndi Kappes
By Wyndi Kappes, Associate Editor
Published April 6, 2023
sleeping newborn baby
Image: caragayle | Shutterstock

As reports show an increase in Autism cases worldwide, a new study provides hope for earlier diagnoses and more effective interventions. Learn more about how the results from a routine hearing test may be able to change the future of children born with Autism.

What did the study find?

Building upon data collected during a 2020 Harvard Medical School and University of Miami study, researchers at Rutgers University examined fluctuations in brain waves recorded during the Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) test. Used routinely to assess hearing in newborns, during the test, doctors play clicks to sleeping babies, whose brain response is recorded using soft electrodes.

Researchers found that newborns who later received an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis had pronounced delays in their brainstem’s responses to sounds as well as reduced access to sound frequencies. On average, these newborns had a 1.76-millisecond lag in response compared to newborns who developed neurotypically.

The study’s authors believe that with very little effort and cost, these new analytics could be added to routine testing to create a universal screening tool for neurodevelopmental derailment and early warning signs of autism. While not a diagnosis per se, this screening would provide the earliest benchmark for what children need further testing and diagnostic workup.

Why is early diagnosis of autism so important?

The brain develops at a very specific pace which allows certain skills to be learned at certain times than others. For example, for years now, research has pointed to the importance of teaching foreign languages to children at a young age when the circuitry pathways in their brains are still pliable and open to new connections. Simply put, the older you get, the more your brain gets stuck in its ways and becomes less receptive to new information.

Similarly, studies show that most brain-related neurodevelopmental disorders are present before or at birth. During the first 3 or 4 years before autism diagnoses are often made, children’s brains show extreme plasticity, making them the most open to interventional therapies and support. The later a diagnosis is made, the more fully formed brain circuitry becomes, making interventions more difficult and less successful, directly impacting children’s lifelong ability to navigate social interactions and communication with ease.

How long before parents could see this screening in use?

The study’s authors remain optimistic that the implementation of a universal screening is within reach. In conversation with The Bump, the study’s lead author Elizabeth Torres, PhD, said a rollout depends on many factors. She personally hopes to raise funds to launch a study of 3,000 babies over the next 3-4 years, during which she would refine the screening data and delve deeper into developmental sub-classes within the autism spectrum. After the study’s conclusion, the FDA would have to approve the screening before it was widely available for use in clincal settings.

Regardless of whether parents can expect to see a screening like this within the next five years or the next decade, an exciting and optimistic future for earlier autism detection and treatment is surely on the horizon!

save article
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

baby looking at mom talking
When Do Babies Understand No?
Medically Reviewed by Dina DiMaggio Walters, MD
13 Children’s Books That Celebrate Juneteenth
13 Children’s Books That Celebrate Juneteenth
By Nehal Aggarwal
two toddlers in the bath together sharing toys
How to Teach Toddlers to Share
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
2 toddlers playing in sand at playground
What Is Parallel Play—and Why Is It Important for Kids?
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
mom showing baby a toy
How and When Do Babies Develop Object Permanence?
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
asian father reading book with daughter on couch at home
25 Kids Books Under $20 That Celebrate AAPI Culture
By Wyndi Kappes
toys that have been inducted into the toy hall of fame
These Three Toys Were Just Inducted Into the National Toy Hall of Fame
By Stephanie Grassullo
ADVERTISEMENT
sesame place entrance sign
Why the Incidents at Sesame Place Are So Problematic
By Jen Hayes Lee
mother and baby sitting at desk working at home during covid pandemic
Baby's Social Development Hasn't Been Affected by COVID, New Study Says
By Wyndi Kappes
happy mom lifting up baby and singing to her
6 Smart Ways to Stimulate Baby's Mind
By Paula Kashtan
ADVERTISEMENT
colin kaepernick interacting with fans during spring football game in michigan
Colin Kaepernick’s New Kids’ Book Teaches It’s Normal to Be Different
By Nehal Aggarwal
mother kissing autistic son on forehead while teaching school at home
We Don’t Need Autism Awareness—We Need Autism Acceptance, Study Says
By Nehal Aggarwal
amy schumer on set of life & beth in new york city
Amy Schumer Opens Up About Son’s Possible Future Autism Spectrum Diagnosis
By Nehal Aggarwal
ADVERTISEMENT
father holding baby at home
Babies Can Understand Visual Observations at 4 Months Old, Study Says
By Nehal Aggarwal
toddler kissing mother while reading books in bed at home
This One Thing Helps Babies Identify Close Family Relationships, Study Says
By Nehal Aggarwal
Introducing Ji-Young, Sesame Street's First Asian-American Muppet
Introducing Ji-Young, Sesame Street's First Asian-American Muppet
By Nehal Aggarwal
5 Things This Mom Wants You to Know About Having a Child With Dwarfism
5 Things This Mom Wants You to Know About Having a Child With Dwarfism
By Melissa Horvath
ADVERTISEMENT
Illustration of Disney Princess from underrepresented countries.
Check Out These Reimagined Disney Princesses From Underrepresented Countries
By Nehal Aggarwal
Scene from Disney Land with colorful balloons.
Check Out Disney’s New Rainbow Collection in Honor of Pride Month
By Nehal Aggarwal
Grandfather sitting with his two grand daughters and reading a book.
16 Books That Celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander Culture
By Nehal Aggarwal
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.