Two years ago, Good Morning America featured a segment with Dr. Jennifer Ashton discussing a promising new study that explored how eye-tracking technology might help identify early signs of autism in toddlers. The research, published in JAMA, represented a new frontier in developmental science — using measurable, objective data to support clinicians in one of the most challenging and consequential diagnoses in early childhood.

Today, the findings from that study continue to resonate across pediatrics, behavioral health, and developmental medicine. As new technologies enter clinical workflows, eye-tracking stands out for one simple reason: it captures what a child sees, attends to, and prioritizes — revealing subtle patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed.

The Study Behind the Headlines

The research featured by Dr. Ashton examined how toddlers responded to social stimuli using a specialized eye-tracking device. Children between 16 and 30 months old watched short videos of other kids engaging in simple social interactions. While they watched, a high-resolution camera tracked precisely where their gaze landed — on faces, eyes, gestures, or on unrelated objects in the background.

What the researchers found was both intuitive and groundbreaking. Toddlers later diagnosed with autism tended to spend less time looking at faces and social cues, and more time focusing on non-social elements like toys or the floor. By quantifying these gaze differences, scientists could identify measurable patterns of social engagement that correlated strongly with clinical assessments.

In that original JAMA study, the technology achieved roughly 80% diagnostic accuracy, a remarkable result for a noninvasive, toddler-friendly tool. Later studies have shown similar or improved performance when combined with clinician judgment, with sensitivity and specificity in some cases exceeding 85–90%. The approach doesn’t replace a clinician’s expertise — but it adds an objective layer of evidence that can help guide decision-making with greater confidence.

Why This Technology Matters

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects roughly 1 in 31 children in the U.S*. Early diagnosis is critical because intervention during the first few years of life has the greatest impact on developmental outcomes. Yet, many children aren’t diagnosed until preschool or later — often after months or years on waiting lists for specialists.

Eye-tracking offers a way to bring more equity and efficiency to this process. Because the test is based on natural visual behavior, it requires no verbal responses or medical procedures. A toddler simply watches a video while the system captures their visual attention patterns. That simplicity means the tool could eventually be used in primary care settings or community clinics, where developmental concerns are often first raised.

For clinicians, the implications are significant: faster access to reliable data, clearer referral pathways, and less dependence on subjective impressions alone. For parents, it means earlier answers — and earlier opportunities for support.

*Current statistics as of October 14, 2025

The Broader Context: AI, Biomarkers, and Objectivity in Medicine

Dr. Ashton framed this story in the context of a broader movement toward AI and biomarkers in clinical diagnosis. In many areas of medicine — from cardiology to oncology — measurable biological or behavioral data now complement traditional observation. Eye-tracking applies the same principle to developmental health, converting gaze behavior into quantifiable “digital biomarkers” that can be analyzed alongside behavioral assessments.

The result is a more integrated approach: technology supports the clinician, but human expertise remains at the center. As the researchers themselves emphasized, eye-tracking should not replace a full evaluation — rather, it’s a powerful addition to the diagnostic toolkit.

Limitations and Responsible Use

Despite its promise, this technology isn’t without caveats. Eye-tracking is only as reliable as the conditions in which it’s used. Lighting, calibration, and a child’s willingness to engage all affect accuracy. Studies have also primarily focused on toddlers between 14 and 48 months, so further research is needed to validate its use in younger or older populations.

Perhaps most importantly, a “positive” result on an eye-tracking test doesn’t equal a diagnosis. It signals elevated likelihood — a prompt for further assessment, not a label. Communication with families about what these results mean, and what they don’t, remains an essential part of responsible implementation.

Looking Ahead

Since the study’s publication, eye-tracking has continued to evolve. One notable example is the EarliPoint Evaluation, developed by EarliPoit Health, formerly EarliTec Diagnostics, in collaboration with the Marcus Autism Center and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The device received FDA authorization as an aid for diagnosing autism in children as young as 16 months. Its validation in multiple large-scale studies reinforces the potential of objective, technology-assisted tools to accelerate early detection.

The promise is both clinical and human: shorter diagnostic wait times, more equitable access to care, and the possibility of life-changing early interventions.

Conclusion

The science of eye-tracking for early autism detection has only grown more compelling over the years. The studies underpinning this technology show how data, AI, and clinical expertise can intersect to improve care for children and families.

As Dr. Ashton said, it’s “a really interesting use of technology, media, and science to make a diagnosis.” And it’s a reminder that when technology is designed with empathy and evidence in mind, it can do far more than detect — it can help us see earlier, act sooner, and support children at the moment it matters most.

Transcript

00:00-00:15 And welcome back to GMA let’s get right to our cover story and a possible medical breakthrough for autism a new FDA approved eye tracking device that may help with earlier diagnoses for children as young as 16 months old which could lead to earlier care 

00:15-00:34 ABC News’ Reena Roy is joining us with that Reena. Good morning well good morning to you. Health experts say this new eye tracking device could be a major Game Changer in helping to detect autism sooner in young children which is key because it means they can receive crucial therapy earlier in life.

00:34-00:50 Budd Dawson Brit is a loving 12 year-old living with autism we call him awesome Dawson Dawson was diagnosed when he was 3 years old after being enrolled in an early clinical trial for an eye-tracking device designed to help diagnose and assess children with autism as early as

00:50-01:15 possible that small portable tablet device now known as the EarliPoint evaluation recently cleared by the FDA in the study Dawson was able to sit it’s it’s a a kid’s chair like in a car he watches this video and they watch his eyes the whole time and they show us afterwards that the things that he is looking at look pretty sporadic compared

01:16-01:36 to a typical kid, and while the average age of an Autism diagnosis for children in the US is four to 5 years old. Two new studies released earlier this week suggests the early Point evaluation could help clinicians diagnose children as young as 16 months and more accurately than with traditional methods alone the technology works by tracking a

01:37-01:59 child’s eye movements 120 times per second while watching videos of other children interact clinicians can then compare what the child pays attention to with what typically developing children would look at for example a child with autism might not pay attention to hand gestures or facial expressions in just a few minutes of watching other children at play there dozen and then hundreds of

02:00-02:20 different important social cues we measure what is typical variation and attention of those cues and then what might signify signs of concerns for social disability and concerns for autism we use that to inform clinicians about whether or not a child may have autism and to actually measure a child’s strengths and vulnerabilities in three

02:21-02:44 key areas the level of social disability as well as a child’s level of verbal ability their communicative abilities and their non-verbal cognitive problem solving skills experts say early diagnosis and early intervention is crucial when thinking about treatment the goal in getting in under the age of three is that um we can help children with autism to grow and thrive at any age but if we can identify children

02:46-03:11 before the age of three the brain is more plastic it’s more amenable to the positive beneficial effects of early intervention as for Dawson he’s thriving it truly is about getting your child the help that they need to be successful has nothing to do with with not doing enough or I should do more it’s about getting them what they need that’s the bottom line and right now the device is only available in several specialty centers

3:12-3:22 but the hope is to make it more widely available researchers are currently studying whether it can be used by pediatricians and primary care physicians in their offices will all right a wonderful story

Disclaimer: The EarliPoint System is indicated for use as a tool to aid qualified clinicians in the diagnosis and assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children 16 to 30 months old who are at risk based on concerns shared by a parent, caregiver, or healthcare provider. Not for direct consumer purchase; clinician use only.