Digital Assessments for Autism

Gender Both
Age 2 up to and including 99

Help improve how autism is identified — from home, with your child

Has your child recently undergone a neurodevelopmental evaluation for a developmental condition such as autism, ADHD or a language disorder? You may then be eligible for this study!

By taking part, you and your child can help improve how autism, is identified in children.

This research aims to develop a diagnostic aid on a smartphone to help clinicians identify autism more efficiently and in an accessible way. This way, families can pursue early intervention much sooner, which can be critical to a child’s development.

What is the study about?

BlinkLab is developing a smartphone-based app to assist in identifying signs of autism in young children using your smartphone.

By comparing responses from children with and without developmental conditions, researchers can see how well this digital tool identifies developmental differences.

How does it work?

The study can be completed at home
You use the BlinkLab app on your own smartphone
Your child watches two short videos
During the videos, the app presents sounds and visuals
The app observes your child’s natural reactions
Everything is designed to be simple, safe, and child-friendly

How much time does it take?

Parents/caregivers: about 60–90 minutes total, spread over 2–4 days
Children: about 30–45 minutes total, spread over 2–4 days

You can complete the activities at times that work best for your family.

Who can take part?

You and your child may be able to join if:

Your child is between 2 and 11 years old
Your child had a neurodevelopmental diagnostic evaluation in the past 12 months, regardless of the outcome (autism, no autism, or another neurodevelopmental condition)
You are able to upload the diagnostic report you received from your healthcare provider (this is required to confirm eligibility)

What do you receive for participating?

A $200 gift card as a thank-you for your time and contribution

How to apply

If you’d like to learn more and see if you may be eligible:

Register on this website
Answer the few short pre-selection questions at the end
If eligible, you’ll be guided to the BlinkLab study sign-up

Taking the first step does not mean you are obligated to participate.

Want to see how it works?

You can watch a short video explaining what to expect before you decide.

Below is a step-by-step overview of what to expect when you reach the BlinkLab study sign-up page and take part in the study.
You can complete everything at your own pace, and the BlinkLab team is always available if you have questions.

Step 1: Answer a few screening questions (about 5-10 minutes)

Before you begin, the BlinkLab team will ask a few short questions to make sure the study is a good fit for you and your child. You may already answer some of these questions while registering on this website. It’s still important that you answer these questions accurately, as these will determine confirmation of your eligibility.

Step 2: Review and sign the parental consent form (about 15 minutes)

Your child’s safety, privacy, and comfort are our top priorities.

The consent form:

Explains the study in clear detail
Describes what participation involves
Confirms that you agree to take part

Before signing, you’ll answer a few short questions to make sure everything is clear.
After signing, you can download the consent form and will also receive a copy by email for your records.

Step 3: Children’s assent (for ages 7 and up, about 15 minutes)

If your child is 7 years or older, they’ll be asked to record a short video to show they understand the study and are happy to take part.

This step:

Explains the study in an age-appropriate way
Helps ensure your child feels comfortable and willing
Gives your child a voice in the decision
You can provide assent on behalf of your child if they are unable to give verbal assent

Step 4: Diagnostic report

You will be asked to share your child’s neurodevelopmental diagnostic report with us. This report will be used to verify your child’s neurodevelopmental diagnosis.

This report should contain:

Your child’s full name, date of birth, name of the health care provider who made the diagnosis, facility the diagnosis was made, a diagnostic statement and the tools used to inform the diagnosis.

Note: Follow-up Individualized Education Program (IEP) reports usually don’t meet diagnostic requirements, as they focus on progress or goals rather than making a formal diagnosis. It’s recommended to submit the original diagnostic report (from within the last 12 months) or a full psychological evaluation that meets the necessary criteria.

Step 5: Download the app (about 2 minutes)

You’ll download the BlinkLab app from the Apple App Store.
Installation is quick and straightforward.

Step 6 : Your child watches two short, child-friendly videos and you fill out a few short questionnaires about your child

(about 15 minutes per video, and 5-10 minutes per questionnaire)

Your child watches engaging, age-appropriate videos
Audio cues are played during the videos
The app securely records your child’s natural responses
You fill out questionnaires about your family’s demographic details, your child's medical history and your child's neurodevelopment.

Everything is designed to feel familiar, safe, and pressure-free.

That’s it

As a token of appreciation for your time and involvement, receive a $200 gift card.

BlinkLab is a team of neuroscientists, software developers and medical doctors.

BlinkLab is developing a smartphone app to assist in identifying signs of autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. By enabling faster, more accessible, at-home assessments, families can pursue early intervention much sooner.

Their app is designed to identify early signs of conditions like autism in young using your smartphone. During this simple at-home experience, the app observes your child's natural reactions to specific audio cues while watching two short, engaging videos.

Yes, your child’s data is kept strictly confidential. We prioritize privacy and security by encrypting all collected data and storing it securely to prevent unauthorized access. Additionally, we de-identify data, separating it from personal identifiers, such as names and dates of birth, ensuring it cannot be traced back to your child. The data is used solely to provide insights and improve our research. De-identified data from your child may be combined and analyzed with de-identified data from another IRB-approved research that uses similar procedures. No information that could identify your child will be shared between studies or in any publications. The data is never shared, sold, or used for any other purposes.

During the test, unexpected sounds are played to elicit natural reflexes. These sounds might cause slight discomfort or mild stress. However, the test is at home, includes engaging children's videos, and is quick to complete, ensuring minimal disruption for your child.

Apply for this trial

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