A piece of software which helps detect autism in children early will be introduced in Hanoi on the weekend, newswire Vietnamplus reported Thursday.

The software, A365, will be presented at a seminar on children with autism, to be held on October 11 at Archimedes Academy Secondary School in Cau Giay District.

A365 will allow parents, caretakers and medical staff to detect autism spectrum disorders in early stages; provide relevant information; and help researchers have a better understanding of children’s state to build an appropriate intervention program.

The software has been developed as part of a project to supply smart care to children with autism by the Center for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population and the Vietnam Autism Network, with support from local and international experts.

The project is the result of close cooperation between professionals, young parents with children suffering autism, and autistic children.

Medical staff and parents will be required to log in and take a test before being allowed to search for information, watch videos about intervention programs for children with autism, and connect directly with the Vietnam Autism Network via the software.

According to a study conducted by the Hanoi-based Central Pediatrics Hospital in 2013, the number of children with autism detected by the clinic in 2007 was 50 times more than in 2000, and the count of autistic children treated by the infirmary in 2007 increased by 33 times from 2000.

In Ho Chi Minh City, the number of autistic children rose from only two in 2000 to 324, or 160 times higher, in 2008.

Autism is a developmental disorder that appears in the first three years of a child’s life, and affects the normal development of social and communication skills.

Children with autism generally have problems in three crucial areas of development: social interaction, language and behavior.

The exact causes of the disorder remain unknown. There is probably a combination of factors that lead to autism, including genes, diet, mercury poisoning, the body’s inability to properly process vitamins and minerals, and vaccine sensitivity, according to medical websites.

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