Predicting Autism from EEGs in Infants

Electroencephalography — easily administered, relatively inexpensive, and noninvasive — starting at age 3 months had excellent positive predictive value for autism diagnoses by age 36 months.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is diagnosed at a median age of 52 months (MMWR Surveill Summ 2018; 67:1); however, because interventions may help younger children, we need to identify ASD at earlier ages. To see whether electroencephalography (EEG) would provide helpful information, investigators enrolled 99 infants with an older autistic sibling (high-risk group) and 89 infants with a normal older sibling and no family history of developmental disorders (low-risk group).

Starting at age 3 months, children underwent EEGs seven times until age 36 months. Analyses included those with two or more assessments, including one at age 18 months or older. (Infants sat on their mothers' laps and were fitted with head-nets containing EEG sensors. A wor…

Reviewing Author

Barbara Geller, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Barbara Geller, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Predicting Autism from EEGs in Infants

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Reviewing Author