Researchers are working on the “holy grail” of autism technology — a wearable monitor that predicts aggression.
Five children’s psychiatric hospitals have come together to develop the device. They have named their joint effort the Autism and Developmental Disorders Inpatient Research Collaborative.
Pioneering: Matthew Siegel’s research group is developing wearable technology that predicts aggression
The group hopes the technology it is developing could help children better recognise their emotions and calm themselves down.
Researchers have completed a pilot trial using a device called an E4 wristband.
Aggression predicted a minute in advance
Data suggests the device can predict an outburst a minute before it happens. The researchers believe this is enough time to ensure people’s safety.
The watch-sized wristband monitors aggression by measuring sweat, which the body creates during physiological arousal.
The collaborative hopes to develop the technology to flash from green to yellow to a red warning.
Dr Matthew Siegel is a child psychiatrist at Spring Harbor Hospital, in Maine. The hospital is one of the five centres in the group.
In an email, Siegel said the wearable technology “is several steps away from being proven and ready for clinical use”.
Looking for funding for larger trial
He added that the collaborative is looking for funding for a larger trial in order to “increase the predictive accuracy”.
He has also described the device as potentially being the “holy grail” of autism technology.
As well as the wristband monitor, the group is carrying out other research. It all focuses on people who are severely impacted by autism because, Siegel said, they have been “underrepresented” in research.
Among these other projects, the group has identified mood disorders as the single most important factor in children with autism ending up in psychiatric hospitals.
Also, research from the collaborative showed children with autism who have mood or anxiety disorders are more vulnerable to suicidal thoughts.
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Published: 8 November 2017
