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Raising children in any environment can be very stressful. Even more so in an environment where neurological disorders such as autism can way heavily on a parents heart, which is why a new study published online in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, reveals an automated vocal analysis technology that has the ability to screen for autism spectrum disorders.

This vocal analysis technology is called The Language Environment Analysis (LENA). This system labeled child and infant vocal patterns from recordings. Kimbrough Oller, PhD, from the University of Memphis took a brave step forward when he designed an 86 percent accurate automatic acoustic analysis, which showed that very young children with autism have distinctly different pre-verbal speech patterns than those of typically developing children.

Syllabification is the ability of a child to yield complete syllables with speedy movements of the tongue and jaw during communication. Syllabification was found to be the most important of the twelve acoustic parameters associated with vocal development. Autistic samples showed stunted development with regards to said parameters. These findings show that the analysis of vast samples of vocalization can now be included for research on vocal development.

Until now, vocal characteristics have not been included in the typical criteria for the diagnosis of autism. Professor Steven Warren, from the University of Kansas, and Oller were among the first to see the potential of this technology in its relationship to autism spectrum disorder screening.

Warren states, “a small number of studies had previously suggested that children with autism have a markedly different vocal signature, but until now, we have been held back from using this knowledge in clinical application by the lack of measurement technology.”

One of the defining features of this approach is the objectivity of it. “Previous methods of screening for and diagnosis of autism have relied very heavily on the observations and judgments of parents, teachers, and professional diagnosticians,” said Oller, “all of which inevitably include subjectivity.”

Researchers predict LENA, could have a large impact on all aspects of autism, from screening to treatment, because of the inexpensive collection and analysis of data.

“Even though the study focused on English-learning children only, there is no reason to believe that the technology shouldn’t be applicable to children speaking languages other than English.” Oller goes on to explain, “the reason for this expectation is that the model of acoustic parameters used in the research is designed to be universal with regard to languages, focusing on features of voice and articulation of speech or speech-like sounds that occur in languages everywhere.”

Some children with autism spectrum disorders can be diagnosed as early as 18 months, but unfortunately the median age of diagnosis in the United States is 5.7 years. However, with this new technology, pediatricians can screen children for autism spectrum disorders to determine if a referral to a specialist is necessary. If so, these children can receive more effective treatment earlier.

Many parents answered the call to public notices in the media and disclosed whether their children had been diagnosed with autism or language delay. These children were then fitted with LENA, which catalogued everything the child vocalized.

“Autism interventions are expensive and arduous. This tool may help us develop cost-effective treatments and better understand how they work and how to keep them working,” said Warren.

Oller concluded his assessment of the study by stating, “We are now in a new era in research in vocal development. Never before was it possible to use totally automated systems to analyze massive quantities of recordings collected in children’s homes, and thus track typical development and provide the basis for significant clinical contributions to monitoring intervention. Now, all of that is possible, and the effects of this development will be felt in research, in education, and in the clinical setting.”

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