For Pediatricians

Early Diagnosis of Autism with EarliPoint™:

A Key Tool for Objective Early Identification

Developmental delays impact 1 in 6 children1, while autism affects 1 in 31 children under the age of 8.2,10 These conditions, though common, are often underdiagnosed until later in childhood—missing the critical opportunity for early intervention.3, 4, 9, 11 Timely diagnosis is crucial3, especially during the first few years when brain development is most active. Without early detection and intervention, children with developmental delays or autism may face significant long-term challenges in academic, social, and emotional development.3,4,9,11 The EarliPoint™ Evaluation System is the only FDA-cleared, objective assessment tool aiding in diagnosing children 16 to 30 months, for ASD, measuring key developmental skills like social disability, verbal ability, and non-verbal learning. 5-6

The Challenge: Delays in Diagnosis and Intervention

As a pediatrician, you know the stakes of delayed diagnosis. Parents often wait until their child reaches school age to seek answers, hoping that “they’ll grow out of it.” 8 This watchful waiting can have serious consequences, as the most critical period for brain development occurs before age 3, when early intervention can make the most difference.11 Unfortunately, many children do not receive the help they need in time, and the costs—both developmental and financial—can be significant.3,4,9,11

  • Delays in Diagnosis:
    • Most children with autism or developmental delays are not diagnosed until 5,6,8,11 often due to waiting lists, inconsistent screening, and the subjective nature of other diagnostic methods.1,5,11
  • Lack of Early Intervention:
    • Starting intervention at ages 5-6 can lead to 40% higher lifetime costs than starting at age 2-3. Early intervention not only reduces overall costs but dramatically improves long-term outcomes.4, 9, 11
  • The Stigma Barrier:
    • Fear of labels and stigma7 prevents many parents from seeking early diagnosis. This delay means their child misses out on vital intervention during the most malleable years.3-4

Watch this 1-minute EarliPoint™ overview video

The Solution: EarliPoint™ Evaluation System

EarliPoint™ changes the early assessment narrative. It’s the only FDA-cleared tool that uses eye-tracking technology to objectively measure a child’s social disability, verbal ability, and non-verbal cognitive skills—key factors in diagnosing . EarliPoint™ provides reliable, data-driven insights that help clinicians to confidently diagnose and monitor children from 16 months.5-6

Key Benefits for Pediatricians:

  • Accurate, Objective Data: EarliPoint™ provides precise, measurable data on a child’s developmental skills, helping you make the right call for early diagnosis and intervention. Unlike subjective behavioral observations, EarliPoint™ provides objective measurements that are critical for accurate diagnosis. 5-6
  • Early Diagnosis, Early Intervention: Diagnosing autism and developmental delays before the age of 3 leads to better outcomes.3, 4, 9 Studies show that early treatment, before or by the age of three, can help 43% of children be successfully included in regular education.9
  • Track Development Over Time: EarliPoint™ doesn’t just aid in diagnoses; it also objectively measures a child over time. By comparing future assessments with the initial diagnostic baseline6, pediatricians and clinicians can make data-driven adjustments to treatment plans, ensuring ongoing support tailored to each child’s evolving needs.
  • Boost Parent Confidence: Parents often feel overwhelmed or unsure when they first receive a diagnosis. By offering them clear, objective data from EarliPoint™, you empower them to make informed decisions about their child’s care. 5-6

Watch this 3-minute EarliPoint™ diagnostic report video.

Overcome the Barriers to Early Diagnosis

  • Reduce Stigma:

    • EarliPoint™ can present parents with objective, evidence-based information of how their child sees and interacts with the world.5,6,3,8,11

  • Improve Access for All Families:

    • EarliPoint™ helps level the playing field for families from all backgrounds, offering a standardized, objective tool that reduces potential clinician biases and ensures that every child has access to accurate, early diagnosis—regardless of their socio-economic or ethnic background.2,5,6,8,11

  • Increased Confidence:

    • EarliPoint™ provides reliable data to support clinical decisions5-6, so you can confidently guide parents through the next steps in treatment.

  • Streamline Referrals and Intervention:

    • EarliPoint™ helps you refer children for intervention earlier, reducing the time spent navigating complex systems and increasing the likelihood that children will receive the timely care they need.3,4,5,6,8,11

Why Pediatricians Choose EarliPoint™:

  • FDA-Cleared, Objective Measurement:

    • EarliPoint™ is the only FDA-cleared system that uses eye-tracking technology to measure early indicators of autism and social disability, verbal ability, and nonverbal learning in children aged 16 months to 30 months.5

  • Proven Diagnostic Performance:

    • EarliPoint™ delivers diagnostic performance of 0.9 (1.0 is perfect) in comparison with the country’s leading experts.5 This system provides 20 years of research and validation conducted amongst the best US autism centers.5-6

  • Cost-Effective, Long-Term Benefits:

    • Early intervention reduces lifetime costs and can lead to better outcomes, including independence and successful inclusion in regular classrooms. 4, 9

  • Ability to Objectively Serial Assess a Child:

    • Unlike other diagnostic tools, EarliPoint™ allows for ongoing assessments6, giving clinicians the ability to track progress with objective data. 

Take Action: Revolutionize Early Autism Diagnosis

Don’t wait until school age to diagnose autism. By integrating EarliPoint™ into your practice, you can help provide the earliest possible interventions for children during their most crucial developmental stages.

Get started today by learning how EarliPoint™ can transform your practice and referrals. Contact us to learn more about how our FDA-cleared evaluation system can help with early diagnosis for your patients.

The EarliPoint System device is indicated as a tool to aid qualified clinicians in the diagnosis and assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children ages 16 months through 30 months, who are at risk based on concerns identified by a parent, caregiver, or healthcare provider. Prescription use only.

References

1. Li Q, Li Y, Zheng J, et al. Prevalence and trends of developmental disabilities among US children and adolescents aged 3–17 years, 2018–2021. Sci Rep. 2023;13(1):17254. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-44472-1

2. Shaw KA, Williams S, Patrick M, et al. Prevalence and early identification of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 4 and 8 years — ADDM Network, 16 sites, United States, 2022. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2025;74(2):1–22. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12011386/

3. Landa RJ. Efficacy of early interventions for infants and young children with, and at risk for, autism spectrum disorders. Int Rev Psychiatry. 2018;30(1):25–39. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6034700/

4. Cidav Z, Munson J, Estes A, et al. Cost offset associated with Early Start Denver Model for children with autism. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2017;56(9):777–783.

5. Jones W, Klaiman C, Richardson S, et al. Eye-tracking–based measurement of social visual engagement compared with expert clinical diagnosis of autism. JAMA. 2023;330(9):854–865. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2808996

6. Jones W, Carr K, Klin A, et al. Development and replication of objective measurements of social visual engagement to aid early diagnosis and assessment of autism. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(9):e2330145. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2808909

7. Crane L, Jones L, Prosser R, et al. Parents’ views and experiences of talking about autism with their children. Autism. 2019;23(8):1969–1981. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1362361319836257?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed

8. Crane L, Chester JW, Goddard L, et al. Experiences of autism diagnosis: A survey of over 1000 parents in the United Kingdom. Autism. 2016;20(2):153–162. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1362361315573636

9. Methodology and literature – Over 50 articles meeting medium to high quality standards were reviewed and is consistent with recent work appearing in JAMA Pediatrics. https://autism.gatech.edu/

10. https://www.cdc.gov/autism/data-research/index.html

11. Hyman S, Levy S, Myers S, et al. Identification, Evaluation, and Management of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Pediatrics. 2020; 145 (1): e20193447.