Children diagnosed as having autism or other developmental disorders often exhibit a movement behavior that is repetitive, rhythmical, and non-goal directed. An example of this movement, called stereotypy, is a rocking of the upper body back and forth while standing or sitting in a chair. Stereotypy may serve as a proxy for other behaviors or conditions, for example, anxiety or mood disorders. Thus, for some individuals, stereotypy may be a target for intervention. By obtaining a baseline for stereotypy movement levels, doctors may have a more accurate and objective way to measure a patient’s daily level of stereotypy and patient response to treatment for related anxiety and mood disorders.

Creare engineers have designed a Motion Telemetry Module (MTM) that uses tri-axial accelerometers to track motion in three dimensions. The size of a wristwatch, it is attached to a child’s wrist or shoulder. The MTM transmits the data to a data computer at a range of up to 150 feet. The data is then analyzed, using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to discriminate between stereotypical activities and normal activities of daily living.

We are currently working with a test population to validate system performance. The final device will automate the data analysis and offer physicians a valuable tool in the treatment of autism and related anxiety and mood disorders.

Back to Fall 2006 Index