Summarizing Recent Developments on Autism Spectrum Disorder Detection and Classification Through Machine Learning and Deep Learning Techniques

Masroor Ahmed, Sadam Hussain, Farman Ali, Anna Karen Gárate-Escamilla, Ivan Amaya, Gilberto Ochoa-Ruiz, José Carlos Ortiz-Bayliss

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) encompasses various neurological disorders with symptoms varying by age, development, genetics, and other factors. Core symptoms include decreased pain sensitivity, difficulty sustaining eye contact, incorrect auditory responses, and social engagement issues. Diagnosing ASD poses challenges as signs can appear at early stages of life, leading to delayed diagnoses. Traditional diagnosis relies mainly on clinical observation, which is a subjective and time-consuming approach. However, AI-driven techniques, primarily those within machine learning and deep learning, are becoming increasingly prevalent for the efficient and objective detection and classification of ASD. In this work, we review and discuss the most relevant related literature between January 2016 and May 2024 by focusing on ASD detection or classification using diverse technologies, including magnetic resonance imaging, facial images, questionnaires, electroencephalogram, and eye tracking data. Our analysis encompasses works from major research repositories, including WoS, PubMed, Scopus, and IEEE. We discuss rehabilitation techniques, the structure of public and private datasets, and the challenges of automated ASD detection, classification, and therapy by highlighting emerging trends, gaps, and future research directions. Among the most interesting findings of this review are the relevance of questionnaires and genetics in the early detection of ASD, as well as the prevalence of datasets that are biased toward specific genders, ethnicities, or geographic locations, restricting their applicability. This document serves as a comprehensive resource for researchers, clinicians, and stakeholders, promoting a deeper understanding and advancement of AI applications in the evaluation and management of ASD.