Identifying auditory hypersensitivity in a child and the way he perceives sounds could help detect theautismaccording to the results of a study published in the medical journal Pediatrics International. This discovery would make it possible to put a non-invasive and inexpensive test to try to diagnose this disorder.
Auditory hypersensitivity is a major complication in autism. Researchers from Mie University in Japan have demonstrated, using an autistic rat model, that a morphological abnormality of the auditory pathway is involved in this loss of value. More importantly, this nerve pathway is responsible for exploring the localization of sound. Researchers suggest a new approach to diagnosing autism, for example by asking parents, “Does your child seem to know where the sound is coming from? »
L’autism is a neurological disorder characterized by impairments in social interaction, communication and sensory abnormalities such as auditory hypersensitivity. Despite intense research, the causes of this disorder are still unknown. Therefore, the diagnosis of autism depends on a detailed interview by a doctor, which is very subjective. Thus, scientific approaches are needed for early detection of the disease.
A non-invasive test to diagnose autism
The research group produced autistic rat models to clarify various features of the disease. They observed the cause of auditory hypersensitivity in the brains of rodents. There are two types of pathways in the brain: one excitatory and the other inhibitory. In autistic animal models, abnormalities were found in the inhibitory pathway.
This abnormal region of autistic guinea pigs also plays a role in how we hear a sound. Therefore, asking parents if their child seems to know where the sound is coming from allows for a much clearer and more accurate diagnosis of theautism. No special medical equipment is needed, so this move can be introduced immediately as a new screening approach.
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