Eyes May Be Windows to the Autistic Soul
A recent study completed by researchers at the University of Nottingham seems to contradict previous studies about the ability of individuals with autism to read emotions in faces. The study, which was published in the latest issue of Child Development , was completed by Dr. Elisa Back, Professor Peter Mitchell, and Dr. Danielle Ropar, and used images that showed changes in different parts of the face, with other areas remaining static. Two age groups were studied: ages 10 to 14 and ages 11 to 15, with matching control groups of neurotypical children. They found that, with the autistic children, emotions were most clearly understood by the eyes, whether they were shown in isolation or within the context of the entire face.
This new study is in direct opposition to previous studies, in which researchers determined that one of the issue with autism is that individuals can’t read social clues in facial expressions at all, which was believed to be a the root of social issues faced by individuals on the autism spectrum.
I haven’t gotten my hands on the full study yet, but am curious how the researchers factored in the current diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorders, which includes “little or no eye contact” in its list. If a lack of eye contact is seen as a symptom, is there a causal relationship? Why, if that is the only context that children with autism have to understand social cues, do they avoid it? How do the researchers believe that the social impairment could be treated based on their findings? This is a study that leaves me with far more questions than answers.
March 30th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
I am so glad you wrote this. I have a son with autism and another son with ADHD. The one with ADHD doesn’t read people very well, but my son with autism reads peoples emotional expressions amazingly well. I am pretty good at hiding my frustration but sometimes he takes my face in his hands and looks at me to see what I’m thinking. He can’t understand my words a lot of times, but he knows where he stands by looking into my eyes.
I think a lot of kids with autism avoid looking into peoples eyes because they are so good at reading them. It’s overstimulating and overwhelming to see everyone’s emotions. I know it would be for me.
March 30th, 2007 at 11:10 pm
Thanks Shauna! I didn’t think of it that way, but you might be onto something.