Mobile and online consumer tools to screen for autism do not promote equity

Autism. 2023 Apr;27(3):714-722. doi: 10.1177/13623613221114280. Epub 2022 Aug 11.

Abstract

Many parents wonder if their child might have autism. Many parents use their smartphones to answer health questions. We asked, "How easy or hard is it for parents to use their smartphones to find 'tools' to test their child for signs of autism?" After doing pretend parent searches, we found that only one in 10 search results were tools to test children for autism. These tools were not designed for parents who have low income or other challenges such as low literacy skills, low English proficiency, or not being tech-savvy.

Keywords: autism spectrum disorder; child; digital divide; mass screening; mobile applications; parents; preschool.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder* / diagnosis
  • Autistic Disorder* / diagnosis
  • Child
  • Humans
  • Parents
  • Poverty