Genetic testing could help diagnose autism spectrum disorder in children and allow for early intervention.
According to The Irish Times, the test is 70 per cent accurate in children of central European decent but tests on other ethnicities are ongoing.
Professor of child psychiatry Michael Fitzgerald said that the test should not be relied on but it is a step in the right direction.
“It’s a step in the right direction but far from acceptable. I couldn’t imagine telling a parent their child had or didn’t have autism on the basis of this,” he said.
A new test could diagnose autism in children soon after birth
“The difficulty of making a diagnosis for small children is even greater than for adults because they are developing rapidly.”
In Ireland, one in 150 children has autism and the test could help parents intervene earlier in life to reduce behavioural and cognitive difficulties in people with autism.
Despite the study, scientists are still a long way from establishing what causes autism but Professor Fitzgerald recommended that parents should seek treatment if they feel their child is slow to develop speech and communication difficulties. He stressed that early intervention is vital.
