Application of artificial intelligence (AI) in patients with autism spectrum disorder and associated comorbidities: a narrative review

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is used in medicine to assist clinicians in diagnosing and treating patients with various medical conditions. It can have specific benefits for children with special needs, as it can assist in daily activities by enhancing support for these children. The incidence and prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are rapidly increasing. ASD can be associated with other comorbid conditions involving multisystem medical and genetic disorders. AI can help with the early diagnosis and management of ASD and related comorbid conditions. This review aimed to study how AI can be used in patients with ASD and comorbidities.

A narrative review was conducted to find the answer to the study. Electronic PubMed/Medline and Google Scholar databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles. Papers that were not written in the English language were excluded. Results of the study found that, along with providing autistic children the practice of identifying facial expressions, interacting socially, and responding appropriately to social cues, AI can help deal with complex comorbid conditions. AI heavily depends on large amounts of good-quality data, so it faces fundamental technological challenges, such as hallucinations, false results, data privacy, security, and ethical concerns. However, by addressing the challenges and limitations, AI can be a great tool for children with ASD and their families to navigate the associated comorbidities and improve the overall quality of life of these patients. Future research and collaboration of providers with policymakers and community partners can overcome the challenges for AI applications in patients with ASD and associated comorbidities.