Autism can be diagnosed at birth through a simple hearing test, reveals study emphasizing link between hearing problems and the disorder
A new study has found that autism can be diagnosed at birth through a simple hearing test. This would enable and allow treatments to work and begin years before the symptoms develop and children with autism could be diagnosed at birth.
This kind of technique measures pressure changes which take place in the middle ear in response to sounds assessing sensitivity as well as response times to a wide range of frequencies. It is also known as acoustic or 'stapedial' reflex testing and it is non-invasive which means it can be easily used on babies without causing them any harm.
Given the fact that there is a strong link between auditory dysfunction and autism, the study suggests that hearing issues could be monitored for the neuro-developmental disorder.