Jones County Family Connection recently hosted a program about new help for families with questions about the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder at the Jones County Health Department. Autism Spectrum Disorder is defined as a developmental disability that can affect behavior, communication and social skills.
Attendees to the July 20 meeting were welcomed by Shana Backus with Operation Early Intervention, who was standing in for Jones County Family Connection Coordinator Joy Carr.
The program was about a new autism diagnosis tool known as EarliPoint, and it was presented by two ASD EarliPoint Technicians — Kaitlyn Steedley, who works out of Ware, Pierce and Coffee counties — and Sarah Cooper, who will be working in Jones and surrounding counties.
Cooper began the presentation by explaining EarliPoint is an early Autism Detection Program in partnership with the Mercer University School of Medicine and the Georgia Department of Public Health.
The technician said children ages 16 months to eight years of age are the target of the EarliPoint Program. She said parents usually identify a problem when milestones are missed during the ages of 18-24 months.
“The problem is that the time to get in to see a specialist is 13 to 26 months. We are working to decrease that waiting time and receive an early diagnosis,” she said.
Cooper explained that the earlier a child is diagnosed means they can start support therapy sooner, which can improve how they talk, play and get ready for school.
“We want to let people know EarliPoint exists and the research behind it. The average age of a diagnosis is four and one half years of age,” she said.
The EarliPoint device looks like most computer monitors but Cooper explained it captures eye gazing data of the subject. She said the technology tracks where the child is looking while watching 14 videos, which helps determine where they are on the spectrum.
The technician said a diagnosis report is usually generated within two hours of the session’s conclusion. Those results are delivered by a clinician.
Cooper went on to say the test takes 20-30 minutes, and about 13 percent of the results are inconclusive.
The purpose of the early diagnosis is to help families better understand what the child is paying attention to. Referrals for EarliPoint come from physicians and agencies working with children, and Cooper said they would like more referrals.
Steedly explained that a diagnosis is required for families to be eligible for state services and resources. She said EarliPoint is a state-funded program with Mercer University. It is a first step and is free for patients.
She said the biggest issue with obtaining a diagnosis is wait times are lengthy, and any little bit helps.
Steedly said the turnaround time for the EarliPoint testing is two weeks, and technicians always follow up with families. She added that the state has a tiered process to qualify for services.
“The question is if the disability impacts the child’s education,” she said.
How to get tested?
Information about the early detection program suggests parents with developmental concerns for children 16 to 30 months talk to the child’s pediatrician or primary care provider about Earlipoint testing. The Jones County Health Department is one of the testing facilities.
At the conclusion of the presentation, Family Connection Chairman Donald Black thanked Steedly and Cooper for the presentation.
Backus added her appreciation. “Having a testing site in Jones County will make a big difference for a lot of kids,” she said.
