Noelle Sinclair

3 Feb 2025

• Link to paper

A recent study has examined a new computerised method called CAMI (Computerised Assessment of Motor Imitation) that may help identify autism in children. While the research shows promise, it's important to understand both its potential and limitations.

What is CAMI?

CAMI is a brief, game-like task that measures how well children can copy movements. The researchers found that children with autism often scored lower on this imitation task compared to children without autism or those with ADHD.

Promising Aspects

• CAMI is quick and engaging for children
• It doesn't require language skills
• The test showed some ability to distinguish between autism and ADHD

Important Limitations to Consider

• The study had a small number of participants, especially for some groups
• Most participants were white and male, so results may not apply equally to all children
• The test worked best for children with higher IQ scores (above 70)
• Not all autistic children have difficulty with imitation

What This Means for Families

While CAMI shows potential, it's far from being a definitive autism test. Autism is complex, and no single test can capture all its aspects. A thorough evaluation by experienced professionals is still crucial.

Looking Ahead

For CAMI to be truly useful, researchers need to: