Investigation Children's Sensory Responses to Stressful Stimuli Using Eye Tracking Technology

Investigation Children's Sensory Responses to Stressful Stimuli Using Eye Tracking Technology

Alvin Sherman Library

Children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often have a challenging time navigating stressful situations. This can be connected to the differences in emotional regulation and sensory processing when compared to children who are neurotypical. Despite the research performed on ASD, there seems to be a gap in understanding how effectively children with ASD are able to reconnect with reality after experiencing an overstimulating environment. To bridge the gap, this study was performed to use advanced eye-tracking technology to gather objective data on key indicators such as facial expressions, pupil dilation, and eye movement patterns. By comparing the responses of the children with ASD to neurotypical children, the research aims to provide insights into the ways children with ASD process and respond to their environment. Pupil dilation measurements were systematically gathered, documented, and calculated for each stimulus. Data were collected using Tobii Pro Nano, semistructured surveys, a computer-embedded camera, and the M-CHAT tool. Data analysis using Tobii Pro lab and IBM SPSS V 27.1 confirmed that the results had low variability, with standard deviations ranging from 0.17 to 0.30, suggesting the findings are reliable. Further, the results show that the mean pupil diameter when exposed to stressful stimuli was statistically and significantly different from baseline (M=3.42 vs. M= 3.78). Similarly, pupil diameter differed during relaxing stimuli as well (M=3.77, M=3.94). The findings provide a foundation for developing interventions and strategies to support children with ASD to manage stimulating environments in a more efficient manner.