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Sensitivity and specificity of pupillary light reflex measures for ASD using monocular pupillometry

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Abstract

Introduction

Automated hand-held pupillometry demonstrates precision accuracy, offering promise for augmenting ASD screening.

Methods

Monocular pupillometry was examined in children and adolescents (36 ASD; 24 TD). Multiple logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analysis assessed PLR metrics and diagnostic status.

Results

Constriction time (Ct1) (ASD: M = 0.69, SD = 0.21; TD: M = 0.82, SD = 0.18; t(58 = 2.37; p = 0.02) and return to baseline (RTB T75) (ASD: M = 2.93, SD = 1.21; TD: M = 2.32, SD = 1.08; t(58) =  − 2.03; p = 0.04) predicted ASD (β =  − 1.31, OR = 0.27; RTB T75, β = 0.156, OR = 1.162). Sensitivity = 74.8%, when RTB ≥ 1.83 s and 69.4% when Ct1 = 0.785 s.

Conclusion

Findings suggest monocular pupillometry captures differences detecting ASD.

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Availability of data and material

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Code availability

Not applicable.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to express our sincere gratitude to study participants and their families.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA

    Georgina T. F. Lynch

  2. Sleep and Performance Research Center, College of Nursing, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA

    Stephen M. James

  3. Department of Speech Language Pathology, Dallas, TX, USA

    Teresa A. Cardon

  4. Department of Community and Behavioral Health, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA

    Sterling M. McPherson

Authors
  1. Georgina T. F. Lynch
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  2. Stephen M. James
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  3. Teresa A. Cardon
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  4. Sterling M. McPherson
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation and data collection were performed by GL, TC, and SJ. Data analysis and manuscript preparation were done by GL and SM. The first draft of the manuscript was written by GL and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Georgina T. F. Lynch.

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Ethics approval and consent to participate

All procedures in this study involving human participants were in accordance with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Study procedures were reviewed and approved by the Washington State University Institutional Review Board, under IRB protocol #15613–002. Informed consent to participate in this study was obtained from all study participants and their legal guardians.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Lynch, G.T.F., James, S.M., Cardon, T.A. et al. Sensitivity and specificity of pupillary light reflex measures for ASD using monocular pupillometry. Neurol Sci 43, 4537–4545 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-022-05976-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-022-05976-2

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