ASDetect - Video led, early autism detection.

THE SOCIAL ATTENTION AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES (2006 - 2016)

The research behind ASDetect

Evidence-based

ASDetect uses an autism assessment method devised by Dr Josephine Barbaro, PhD, who is program leader for the early detection and diagnosis of autism at the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre at La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.

Over a decade of community-based research
Two large-scale studies with more than 30,000 children
350 trained Maternal and Child Health nurses
Based on an autism assessment approach adopted globally in South Korea, Japan, Poland, Bangladesh and China

During this research, 81% of children who were identified as having a high likelihood for autism by Maternal and Child Health nurses, did in fact have autism.

You can read more about the Social Attention and Communication Surveillance studies in academic papers available on PubMed - links below, or by emailing us at ask@asdetect.org for a copy.
2010 PAPER
2013 PAPER

Key markers of autism

ASDetect assesses a child's likelihood of autism using a set of key markers. These relate to the following 'social communication' behaviours of young children:

making consistent eye contact with others
smiling in response to being smiled at
showing their toys to others
play social games
drawing other people’s attention by pointing, and
responding when their name is called.

Listen to Dr Barbaro discuss early detection

Podcast on iTunes and SoundCloud

Watch Dr Barbaro giving an overview of her work in early detection
BFI

(Part of La Trobe Univerity’s Big Fat Ideas series.)

What makes ASDetect unique?

FEATURES OF ASDETECT

Actual clinical videos guide parents

Early behavioural signs of autism can be subtle, so ASDetect includes actual clinical videos of children both with and without autism. Most assessment questions contain these videos and some also have parent activities.

Accurate assessment methodology

This video-led self-assessment app is based on comprehensive, rigorous, world-class research conducted at the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre. The assessment method underlying this app is 83% accurate in the early detection of autism.

Assessment as a child grows

As autism is a developmental condition, signs can emerge as a child grows. This is why ASDetect has assessments at 3 timepoints: when a child is aged 12, 18 and 24 months. Email reminders are sent to parents when children are eligible for the next assessment.

Innovation recognised by 3 awards

ASDetect's pioneering approach to early autism detection has been recognised by three prestigious awards:

The 2019 Business Higher Education Roundtable award for Outstanding Collaboration in National Benefit: Public Health
2016 Google Impact Challenge finalist
2016 Australian Information Industry Association award for Research and Development Project of the Year

Download

ASDetect is a free app that empowers parents to assess their young children for early signs of autism.

For children 2½ years and younger (between 11 and 30 months)
Based on research with an 81% accuracy for detecting autism
Features extensive video footage of children both with and without autism
Contains 3 age-appropriate assessments for children aged 12, 18 and 24 months
Based on world-class, rigorous research at the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre

Download

Using ASDetect is easy

1

Sign up as a parent or caregiver

Enter your name and email address.
2

Enter your child's details

Your child's date of birth will prompt ASDetect to display the appropriate assessment: 12 months, 18 months or 24 months.
3

Complete an assessment

Watch the videos and then answer each question 'mostly' or 'rarely'. An assessment takes between 20 and 30 minutes.
4

Review your answers

You can watch videos again and change your answers if required.
5

Submit your answers and view results

You'll receive an on-screen result of either 'high' or 'low' likelihood, as well as a comprehensive results email.

OUR TEAM

Professor Dissanayake is an established researcher with a strong international reputation in research on autism. She is founder and Chair of La Trobe University’s Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre in Australia, and head of the Child Development Unit in the School of Psychology and Public Health.

Prof. Cheryl Dissanayake

La Trobe University

Dr.. Josephine Barbaro is a Senior Research Fellow at the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre at La Trobe University. Her PhD, the Social Attention and Communication Study (SACS), led to the establishment of Australia’s first Early Assessment Clinic for autism, and has been translated and disseminated nationally and internationally.

Dr. Josephine Barbaro

La Trobe University

Dr Nancy Sadka is the Intake Officer for the Social Attention and Communication Study (SACS) at OTARC. Nancy has supported the journey of over 450 children and families through their early autism assessment..

Dr. Nancy Sadka

La Trobe University

Mrs Olga Tennison is a philanthropist who generously donated the funds to establish the Centre which is named in her honour.

Olga Tennison OAM

The development of ASDetect would not be possible without the support of Salesforce, via their 1-1-1 model. Salesforce calls their integrated philanthropic approach the 1-1-1 model. Since founding, they have given more than $240 million in grants, 3.5 million hours of community service, and provided product donations for more than 39,000 nonprofits and education institutions.