Face-Based Attention Recognition Model for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Journal: Journal of healthcare informatics research
Published Date:

Abstract

UNLABELLED: Attention recognition plays a vital role in providing learning support for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The unobtrusiveness of face-tracking techniques makes it possible to build automatic systems to detect and classify attentional behaviors. However, constructing such systems is a challenging task due to the complexity of attentional behavior in ASD. This paper proposes a face-based attention recognition model using two methods. The first is based on geometric feature transformation using a support vector machine (SVM) classifier, and the second is based on the transformation of time-domain spatial features to 2D spatial images using a convolutional neural network (CNN) approach. We conducted an experimental study on different attentional tasks for 46 children (ASD =20, typically developing children =26) and explored the limits of the face-based attention recognition model for participant and task differences. Our results show that the geometric feature transformation using an SVM classifier outperforms the CNN approach. Also, attention detection is more generalizable within typically developing children than within ASD groups and within low-attention tasks than within high-attention tasks. This paper highlights the basis for future face-based attentional recognition for real-time learning and clinical attention interventions.

Authors

  • Bilikis Banire
    Division of Information and Computing Technology, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.
  • Dena Al Thani
    Division of Information and Computing Technology, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.
  • Marwa Qaraqe
    Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Doha, Qatar.
  • Bilal Mansoor
    Mechanical Engineering Program, Texas A & M University at Doha, Qatar, Doha, Qatar.

Keywords

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