Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Eye Tracking Young Children with Autism
09:03

Eye Tracking Young Children with Autism

Published on: March 27, 2012

The early development of joint attention in infants with autistic disorder using home video observations and parental

Sally M Clifford1, Cheryl Dissanayake

  • 1Behavioural and Brain Sciences Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
|October 6, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Early signs of Autistic Disorder (AD) include gaze and affect anomalies within the first year. These, along with joint attention impairments, suggest early dyadic behaviors are crucial in AD development.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Pediatric Neurology

Background:

  • Autistic Disorder (AD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition.
  • Understanding early developmental trajectories is crucial for timely intervention.
  • Joint attention, eye contact, and affect are key social-communication building blocks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the early development of joint attention, eye contact, and affect in infants later diagnosed with Autistic Disorder (AD).
  • To identify the emergence and progression of these behaviors within the first two years of life.
  • To explore the relationship between early dyadic behaviors and joint attention impairments in AD.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective parental interviews were conducted with children diagnosed with AD and matched controls.
  • Home video analyses were used to assess early social-communicative behaviors.
  • Participants were children aged 3-5 years at recruitment, with 36 diagnosed with AD and 27 controls.

Main Results:

  • Anomalies in gaze and affect were reported by parents as early as 6 months in children with AD.
  • Video data confirmed these anomalies from the first year of life, worsening before the second birthday.
  • Joint attention impairments were evident throughout the second year of life in the AD group.

Conclusions:

  • Early emerging anomalies in eye contact and affect are characteristic of Autistic Disorder.
  • These early dyadic behaviors appear to play a significant role in the development of joint attention deficits in AD.
  • Findings highlight the importance of observing early social-developmental markers for potential identification of AD.

More Related Videos

Comparing Eye-tracking Data of Children with High-functioning ASD, Comorbid ADHD, and of a Control Watching Social Videos05:32

Comparing Eye-tracking Data of Children with High-functioning ASD, Comorbid ADHD, and of a Control Watching Social Videos

Published on: December 7, 2018

A Novel Experimental and Analytical Approach to the Multimodal Neural Decoding of Intent During Social Interaction in Freely-behaving Human Infants11:14

A Novel Experimental and Analytical Approach to the Multimodal Neural Decoding of Intent During Social Interaction in Freely-behaving Human Infants

Published on: October 4, 2015

Related Concept Videos

Autism Spectrum Disorder01:19

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction alongside restrictive and repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is sometimes accompanied by intellectual impairment.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
Stella Chess...
Relationship with Parents: Attachment01:28

Relationship with Parents: Attachment

Parent-child interactions lay the foundation for how we understand relationships throughout life. These interactions are not uniform across families; instead, they are shaped by a range of environmental, emotional, and behavioral factors unique to each caregiver-child dynamic. Social psychologists study these early relationships to understand how patterns formed in infancy influence social functioning and interpersonal behavior in adulthood.Attachment Theory and Early Relational ModelsJohn...
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.