Home Autism Detector Worries Some Doctors

 

Share

0

The Emotional Strain of an Autism Diagnosis

"There's some kind of liability, there's the possibility that there's going to be some sort of diagnosis. So why not get the pediatrician involved?" said Galli.

Some specialists, who were still excited about LENA's technology, also had the same thought.

"People come to us suspecting the diagnosis of autism, but when you confirm it clinically people do fall apart, they begin to cry, so you do need the guidance," said Dr. Antonio Y. Hardan, director of the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic at Stanford University.

"Not all parents are emotionally able to handle the results of diagnosis," Hardan went on. "It's not that such a concept cannot be done, but it's something we have to be careful of, it's like genetic counseling."

"But, it's an interesting device. It is a promising for diagnosis and screening, but also in terms of therapy."

As for the LENA, Moe said the foundation was hoping specialists would appreciate the system as well and use it in research.

"We developed it for parents, for clinicians, for pediatricians, for researchers," said Moe.