30-Second Test Can Help Diagnose Autism in Infants

Researchers find that a simple task can help gauge infants' autism risk 

By JASON KOEBLER

A simple, 30-second exercise administered when an infant is six months old could help tell whether he or she is predisposed to autism, according to an expert.

A "pull-to-sit" task—performed by allowing an infant to lie flat on his or her back and then pulling their arms into a sitting position—can help parents gauge autism risk, especially if a sibling has the disorder, according to researchers at Kennedy Krieger Institute, which studies children with mental disorders. Nearly all 3-year-olds who were diagnosed with autism experienced "head lag" when they were six months old—meaning their neck had trouble supporting their head during the pull-to-sit exercise. READ MORE >>

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