Data-centric automated approach to predict autism spectrum disorder based on selective features and explainable artificial intelligence

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by notable challenges in cognitive function, understanding language, recognizing objects, interacting with others, and communicating effectively. Its origins are mainly genetic, and identifying it early and intervening promptly can reduce the necessity for extensive medical treatments and lengthy diagnostic procedures for those impacted by ASD. This research is designed with two types of experimentation for ASD analysis. In the first set of experiments, authors utilized three feature engineering techniques (Chi-square, backward feature elimination, and PCA) with multiple machine learning models for autism presence prediction in toddlers. The proposed XGBoost 2.0 obtained 99% accuracy, F1 score, and recall with 98% precision with chi-square significant features. In the second scenario, main focus shifts to identifying tailored educational methods for children with ASD through the assessment of their behavioral, verbal, and physical responses. Again, the proposed approach performs well with 99% accuracy, F1 score, recall, and precision. In this research, cross-validation technique is also implemented to check the stability of the proposed model along with the comparison of previously published research works to show the significance of the proposed model. This study aims to develop personalized educational strategies for individuals with ASD using machine learning techniques to meet their specific needs better.