The Role of Intelligent Technologies in Early Detection of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A Scoping Review

Background: Two-year delay is reported between the first developmental concern raised by the parents and the diagnosis of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), delaying the start of early intervention programs most beneficial within the first three years. Aim: Evaluate the role of technology in ASD detection by answering four research questions analyzing 1) evolution of technology, 2) use of various bio-behavioral data sources, 3) demographic categories, databases, controls, comparators, and assessment instruments, and 4) data collection, processing, and outcomes of the technology-based methods in ASD detection. Methods: Scoping review included behavioral-based ASD screening and diagnostic studies, published between 1st January 2011 to 31st December 2021 in PUBMED, SCOPUS, and IEEE Xplore databases for children under six years. The studies were evaluated using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programm (CASP) and the PRISMA scoping review checklist (PRISMA-ScR). Results: The shortlisted 35 studies were categorized into seven bio-behavioral categories. The review highlighted the extensive use of machine learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) to detect infants (as young as 9 to 12 months) at risk of ASD and Other developmental delays (ODD) using multimodal structured and unstructured data. However, the review reported various internal and external validity threats. Conclusion: Technology can significantly improve the current ASD detection process. The validation and adoption of technology can be fast-tracked by 1) designing robust study protocols, 2) executing multi-cultural field trials, 3) standardizing datasets, data quality, and feature engineering methods, 4) recruiting statistically significant participants from ASD, typically developing (TD) and other developmental disorders (ODD) groups to ensure technological generalization, validation, and adoption outside laboratory settings.