Early EEG screening to spot autism and developmental differences in infants
Predicting ASD and Other Developmental Outcomes in the First Year of Life Using EEG in a Diverse Community-Based Sample
Short EEG recordings during well-baby visits will be used to look for early brain signs of autism and other developmental differences in infants from primarily Black and Hispanic, low-income communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11283929 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I join, my baby would have brief, noninvasive EEG recordings at about 4, 9, and 12 months during routine clinic visits and a standard developmental questionnaire. The study plans to enroll 720 infants from a large pediatric primary care clinic connected to Boston Children's Hospital, focusing on families who have been underserved. When children reach 24 months, clinicians will use standard diagnostic tools and expert judgment to determine developmental outcomes including autism. The team aims to see whether EEG patterns in the first year can reliably predict later diagnoses and be collected in a busy community clinic.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are infants recruited in the first year of life who receive well-baby care at the participating pediatric primary care clinic, particularly those from primarily Black and Hispanic, low-income families.
Not a fit: Older children, infants not seen at the participating clinic, or families unwilling to participate in EEG visits are unlikely to be enrolled or benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help identify autism risk earlier so children—especially in underserved communities—can start helpful services sooner.
How similar studies have performed: Previous lab-based work by the team found promising EEG markers as early as 3 months, but testing those markers in a large, community-based and diverse clinic population is new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston Children's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nelson, Charles Alexander — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Nelson, Charles Alexander
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.