Multimodal Objective Assessment of the ASD Phenotype: Longitudinal Stability and Change Across Contexts
Project Description:
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition that is defined in terms of child behavior. However, objective measurement of ASD‐relevant behavior remains rare, particularly across real‐world contexts. This is a multi‐context observational study incorporating fixed and wearable behavior sensors to digitally phenotype ASD‐related behavior in real‐word settings. We employ a computational, scalable approach to investigate how objective measurements of ASD‐related behaviors are associated with clinical indices of ASD severity and the stability of the objective measurements across clinical assessment and naturalistic classroom contexts. This collaborative Miami‐UCLA‐USC project harnesses advances by our interdisciplinary team and others to objectively characterize the autism behavioral phenotype using digital proxemics data obtained from radio frequency identification technology, and machine learning of behavior from audio and video recordings. The assessment of 150 three‐ to five‐year‐old children (50 with ASD, 50 with other developmental disabilities [DD], and 50 typically developing [TD]) will yield a broad range of ASD‐relevant behavior across contexts. Following an objectively and clinically characterized ADOS‐2, six longitudinal BOSCC evaluations are paired with classroom observations over the course of the school year to determine the stability of ASD‐relevant multimodal behavior—and its sensitivity to change with time—in both a relatively controlled clinical assessment and in relatively unconstrained preschool inclusion classrooms. The project will create an objective portrait of multimodal behaviors characterizing variability in the ASD behavioral phenotype between two real‐world settings (the clinic and the inclusion classroom) over longitudinal time. These efforts will contribute to scalable, objective capture of clinically meaningful ASD‐relevant behaviors to support the development of interventions that capitalize on sensitivity to change but yield effects that are stable across contexts.
Keyword(s):
Mental/Behavioral Health – Autism, autism, wearable sensors, automated detection, clinical assessments, presch
Core Function(s):
Performing Research or Evaluation, Developing & Disseminating Information
Area of Emphasis
Education & Early Intervention, Health-Related Activities
Target Audience:
Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Specific Groups
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
National, International
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
