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Open Access 01-12-2021 | Autism Spectrum Disorder | Research

Eye gaze differences in school scenes between preschool children and adolescents with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder and those with typical development

Authors: Yuko Ishizaki, Takahiro Higuchi, Yoshitoki Yanagimoto, Hodaka Kobayashi, Atsushi Noritake, Kae Nakamura, Kazunari Kaneko

Published in: BioPsychoSocial Medicine | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may experience difficulty adapting to daily life in a preschool or school settings and are likely to develop psychosomatic symptoms. For a better understanding of the difficulties experienced daily by preschool children and adolescents with ASD, this study investigated differences in eye gaze behavior in the classroom environment between children with ASD and those with typical development (TD).

Methods

The study evaluated 30 children with ASD and 49 children with TD. Participants were presented with images of a human face and a classroom scene. While they gazed at specific regions of visual stimuli, eye tracking with an iView X system was used to evaluate and compare the duration of gaze time between the two groups.

Results

Compared with preschool children with TD, preschool children with ASD spent less time gazing at the eyes of the human face and the object at which the teacher pointed in the classroom image. Preschool children with TD who had no classroom experience tended to look at the object the teacher pointed at in the classroom image.

Conclusion

Children with ASD did not look at the human eyes in the facial image or the object pointed at in the classroom image, which may indicate their inability to analyze situations, understand instruction in a classroom, or act appropriately in a group. This suggests that this gaze behavior of children with ASD causes social maladaptation and psychosomatic symptoms. A therapeutic approach that focuses on joint attention is desirable for improving the ability of children with ASD to adapt to their social environment.

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Title: Eye gaze differences in school scenes between preschool children and adolescents with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder and those with typical development
Authors: Yuko Ishizaki
Takahiro Higuchi
Yoshitoki Yanagimoto
Hodaka Kobayashi
Atsushi Noritake
Kae Nakamura
Kazunari Kaneko
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keyword: Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published in: BioPsychoSocial Medicine / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1751-0759
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13030-020-00203-w

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Eye gaze differences in school scenes between preschool children and adolescents with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder and those with typical development

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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