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Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) entails a neurobiological developmental disorder that may

affect sensory processing, social interactions, and communication. According to van ’t Hof et al.

(2021), there were 53 million ASD cases globally in 2020, representing a 1.85% prevalence rate.

The detection criteria for autism can consider the extent of continuous deficit of general

interaction across several contexts and restricted and repetitive patterns of interests, behaviors,

and activities. Early ASD diagnosis may advance early intervention, enhancing cognitive and

language abilities and mitigating symptoms. The essay highlights unique ways in which

researchers may advance scientific investigations to improve the understanding of ASD.

Researchers can study the biomarkers related to ASD, such as biological attributes that

individuals may objectively measure, to enhance the scientific basis for comprehending the

condition. Backman (2022) focuses on innovating unique biomarkers to develop new methods to

assess the biology related to ASD. For example, Backman (2022) investigates how autistic

people’s brains react to faces using a noninvasive net (electroencephalogram (EEG)) which

contains small electrodes. Healthcare professionals place EEG over autistic people’s heads to

quantify electrical brain responses related to facial recognition. According to Backman (2022),

electrophysiological brain activity may occur at approximately 170 milliseconds among

neurotypical people, while the response may delay in autistic individuals. However,

investigations on autism are challenging since, although healthcare professionals discover

various biomarkers, research on potential subjects has restricted reproducibility. Even though

healthcare professionals may have multiple candidate biomarkers, they cannot comprehend how

to apply them and for whom it may be appropriate. The challenges indicate the need for

methodical biomarker investigation, such as the Autism Biomarkers Consortium for Clinical
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Trials (ABC-CT). According to Backman (2022), the United States Food and Drug

Administration (USFDA) adopted a biomarker reservation to validate and quantify biomarkers in

2022, accepting ABC-CT, N170 delay for psychiatric condition into the program. The program’s

aim is not to utilize the biomarkers as detection techniques but instead apply them to define

autism subgroups. Even though various medications treat autism symptoms, such as repetitive

and anxious behaviors, no medical interventions exist to assist individuals tussling with autism’s

central features (Backman, 2022). Healthcare professionals can encourage various organizations,

such as pharmaceutical companies and device manufacturers, to participate in autism

intervention by innovating unique detection tools. Insufficient quantitative biomarkers may entail

a disincentive for organizations to invest and participate in autism treatment.

Neuro-technology entails telecommunications that may interact with the human brain. According

to Damiano et al. (2014), neuro-technology in artificial intelligence involves adopting

technology to impact the central nervous system, human perception, or thought. The integration

of virtual avatars and thought-powered robots through brain-computer interface (BCI) has

clinical use as healthcare professionals utilize the technology to manage symptoms of various

conditions, such as degenerative disorders, anxiety, and paralysis. Neuro-technologies are

portable and have limited side effect account and dosage restrictions. The qualities imply that

clinically effective technological innovations may be well-disseminated and translational.

According to Damiano et al. (2014), autistic individuals have an affinity to computers and

technology as students with ASD are motivated to study using computer-based guides relative to

in-person and conventional instruction. The social reciprocity deficiency of ASD may be

challenging to resolve in a meaningful and durable manner using conventional clinical

approaches. According to Damiano et al. (2014), physiological anxiety and over-arousal in the
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context of autistic people limit clinical sustainability and impact. Communication may be more

predictable, controllable, and less stressful in virtual interaction than in human-to-human social

interactions. However, it is unclear how social interaction capabilities acquired in a virtual

environment deciphered into a naturalistic reality context (Damiano et al., 2014). The pervasive

impairments and diffuse etiology in ASD can be the key reason why BCI neuro-technological

approach may apply to autistic people. According to Damiano et al. (2014), psychosocial

interventions that target particular behaviors may be less effective than treatments that target

proximal and central procedures from which several symptoms emerge. For example, loss of

facial emotion recognition (FER) is common among autistic people, yet healthcare professionals

cannot explain how the deficits can contribute to the deterioration of social functioning.

Rehabilitating FER deficits may improve behaviors, including social competencies, emotion

regulation, and expressed empathy (Damiano et al., 2014). Healthcare professionals should

explore neuro-technologies to translate ASD symptoms mediators to clinical treatments as it

facilitates tight experimental control when determining deficit levels during the intervention

process.

Applied and developmental research in the neuro-technologies and biomarkers related to ASD

must complement investigations on traditional interventions. The approaches can facilitate a

client-responsive and theoretically grounded treatment that may target primary mechanisms

relative to existing pharmacological and psychosocial interventions. Even though there has been

an unprecedented transformation in comprehension of ASD genetics, early intervention and

detection, and neurobiology, the ASD prevalence indicates a need for continued discoveries to

translate unique research findings and innovations into effective treatments for autistic

individuals.
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References

Backman, I. (2022). The Biology Behind Autism Spectrum Disorder. Yale School of

Medicine. https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/yale-researcher-seeks-to-understand-

the-biology-behind-autism-spectrum-disorder//

Damiano, C. R., Mazefsky, C. A., White, S. W., & Dichter, G. S. (2014). Future Directions for

Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent

Psychology, 43(5).

van ’t Hof, M., Tisseur1, C., Berckelear-Onnes, I. v., Nieuwenhuyzen, A. v., Daniels, A. M.,

Deen, M., Hoek, H. W., & Ester1, W. A. (2021). Age at autism spectrum disorder

diagnosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis from 2012 to 2019. Autism, 25(4).