r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Jan 30 '25

Neuroscience A low-cost tool accurately distinguishes neurotypical children from children with autism just by watching them copy the dance moves of an on-screen avatar for a minute. It can even tell autism from ADHD, conditions that commonly overlap.

https://newatlas.com/adhd-autism/autism-motion-detection-diagnosis/
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u/AllanfromWales1 MA | Natural Sciences | Metallurgy & Materials Science Jan 30 '25

Does it work for adults? I was never tested as a child (back in the 1960s) but have long suspected..

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u/spotolux Jan 30 '25

I'm curious about this too. I'm 55 and have always been extremely shy and socially awkward. I have 3 children, 2 have ASD diagnosis and 2 ADHD diagnosis. A few years ago after a coworker began treatment for ADHD I was assessed and diagnosed with ADHD. Then last year my father in his 70s went to be assessed for ADHD and ended up being diagnosed with ASD.

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u/AllanfromWales1 MA | Natural Sciences | Metallurgy & Materials Science Jan 30 '25

Yeah, shy and socially awkward I recognize. I'm 69, my son has ASD, my daughter ADHD, her kids will probably be diagnosed sooner rather than later.

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u/ProbablyMyLastPost Jan 30 '25

My father was diagnosed 3 months before his death at 68. I was diagnosed 3 years ago and my son is being assessed soon. My brother, sister, nephew and several cousins are all diagnosed autistic and/or ADHD. I remember reading somewhere that it was not proven that ASD is genetic but I'd invite the people who wrote that to investigate how it works in my family.