Understanding Baby Object Interaction

At the age of nine months, most infants have begun to crawl and explore their surroundings with enthusiasm. During this time, they often pick up toys and objects using both hands to closely examine them.

Recent research from the University of California reveals that the way infants visually explore objects may be indicative of a potential autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis later in life. These findings were published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology.

In the United States, approximately 1 in 54 children are diagnosed with ASD, a figure that escalates to 1 in 5 among those with older siblings diagnosed with the condition. Early screening for ASD allows families to begin medical interventions sooner, which can significantly enhance health and behavioral outcomes for affected children.

The study involved a cohort of 89 infants who had older siblings diagnosed with ASD (considered at high risk) and a control group of 58 infants deemed low risk. Researchers observed these infants as they engaged in a structured task designed to analyze their object interactions from 9 to 36 months of age.

The findings revealed that infants who would later receive an ASD diagnosis displayed notable signs of what researchers termed ‘atypical visual inspection’ at the nine-month mark. These behaviors included gazing at objects with peripheral vision, prolonged staring at items for more than ten seconds, closing one eye while observing objects, or holding items very close to their faces.

Chapter 2: Video Insights on Autism Awareness

The first video titled "Autism Spectrum Disorder in Infants and Toddlers" provides further insights into early indicators of autism and offers guidance for parents and caregivers.

The second video, "12 Signs of Autism in Babies," outlines key signs that may point to autism in young children, helping in early identification and intervention.

This article was originally featured on LabRoots, published on SEP 30, 2021, at 8:00 AM PDT.