Platform for Early Autism Detection in Children Aged 12–36 Months in Home and Primary Care

A child's preference for looking at spinning objects or patterns rather than a parent's face could become a measurable early warning sign for autism, detected during a routine 12-month check-up. The problem is stark: autism diagnosis rates have surged over the past two decades, creating long waiting lists and unequal access to early support. Yet research increasingly shows that early identification—before age three—improves outcomes. Infants who later receive an autism diagnosis often show a measurable preference for non-social stimuli (lights, shapes, textures) over social ones (faces, voices) as early as 12 months. This preference is linked to future difficulties with social communication. This project aims to build a prototype screening tool that primary care clinicians could use during standard appointments for children aged 12 to 30 months. The system would combine eye-tracking or gaze-preference tests with other behavioural indicators, flagging children who might benefit from early monitoring or referral. If successful, the tool could shift autism detection from a reactive, often delayed process to a routine part of early childhood healthcare—reducing waiting lists, cutting inequalities in access, and giving families a clearer path to support before problems become entrenched. The current funding covers prototype development, standardisation, and initial validation.