The PuzzleMouse Project: validating a faster screening approach for early signs of developmental delays

BOSTON, Oct. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-iReach/ --

The PuzzleMouse Project

The Wall Lab at Harvard is creating new, faster ways to diagnose childhood developmental delay, and you can help! If you have a child between 14 months and 7 years, you are eligible to join the Wall Lab's research efforts.  Whether your child has a developmental diagnosis or not, we welcome your participation. Your individual participation counts and will have a huge impact on our ability to create a set of tools that work for all families.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131004/MN92232)

Please visit our study at The PuzzleMouse Project.

Detect early. Intervene early.

Why we are conducting this study:

We want to bridge the time gap between the first signs of a developmental delay, diagnosis, and early intervention for children. With community involvement we will be able to validate an application accessible from home, simplifying this process and facilitating direct caregiver participation.

Who we are seeking:

We are seeking caregivers of children, ages 14 months to 7 years old, with or without a diagnosis of developmental delay. 

How to participate:

Participation will take no more than 5-10 minutes of your time and is done from the privacy and comfort of your own home with any Internet enabled device.

Just visit the website at: https://puzzlemouse.hms.harvard.edu.

      Participation includes:

1) Submitting a short survey

      You will be asked to complete ten questions about your child's day-to-day behavior.

2) Uploading a 2-5 minute home video of your child in a social situation

      A birthday party, playing with friends, or a day at the park, should work wonderfully.

What we hope to achieve with the results of the study:

Through this phase of our research we hope to create a system that will reach families around the world, including those who do not have access to medical services that might diagnose autism spectrum disorder and/or developmental delays. Our hope is to eventually help families receive the attention their child requires in a matter of days.

Conclusion:

Your help will allow us to refine an application that will provide optimal information and value to families, as well as key data for doctors to make the right decision about diagnosis and therapy. Understanding and acknowledging the difference of a child's behavior at home versus in a clinical setting is what drives our research to seek your participation in the validation of a faster screening approach for autism.

Visit https://puzzlemouse.hms.harvard.edu to see how you can support this cause and facilitate access to a novel screening approach to the community.

Media Contact:Jena Daniels, Harvard Medical School, 603-661-1312, jena_daniels@hms.harvard.edu

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SOURCE Harvard Medical School