Hearing tests administered to most newborn babies in Michigan could hold clues to which ones might later be diagnosed with neurodevelopmental conditions, such as autism spectrum disorder.
Such a finding could identify at-risk children who could benefit from early interventions, and support their participation in family, school, and community activities, said Nicole Talge, a College of Human Medicine developmental psychologist and associate professor of epidemiology and biostatistics.
“That really is the over-arching goal, to identify these children earlier than they might otherwise have been,” said Talge, whose research examines the biological and environmental factors that can impact a child’s neurological development.