EarliPoint Health brings earlier autism diagnosis with Tobii eye tracking

EarliPoint Health is transforming autism diagnostics with a clear goal: to identify autism earlier to change lives. Built on the Tobii Eye Tracker 5L and Tobii’s software development kit (SDK), the EarliPoint System device integrates precise eye tracking data directly into its proprietary analytics engine.

The result is an FDA-cleared, 12-minute assessment that helps clinicians detect autism in children as young as 16 months with consistency, objectivity, and scale. This innovation shortens waitlists, accelerates access to therapy, and gives providers a reliable way to track progress over time. 

The collaboration between EarliPoint Health and Tobii is a powerful example of how eye tracking enables innovation, starting with early research in the lab and evolving into real-world applications that help children and families every day. 

The challenge: A process that takes too long 

For decades, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnostics have relied on hours of observation and manual assessment. Clinicians often spend three to six hours per child, and families can wait 12 to 24 months for an appointment. Those delays can mean missing the critical early-intervention window before age three, when therapy has the most impact. 

The solution: Eye tracking that reveals what the eye can’t see 

More than 20 years ago, EarliPoint’s scientific co-founders, Dr. Ami Klin and Dr. Warren Jones, discovered that children with autism look at the world differently. What began as a pioneering research project using eye tracking in a university lab has now evolved into a proven clinical tool. This journey was made possible by Tobii’s eye tracking technology and easy-to-use SDK that empowers innovators to go from research to real-world impact. Their research formed the foundation for a data-driven diagnostic model powered by Tobii Eye Tracker 5L.  

In typical development, infants and toddlers naturally focus on faces, gestures, and voices - visual cues that support social bonding and language learning. The EarliPoint system compares each child’s gaze patterns to these developmental benchmarks. It then provides clear, objective results, including a diagnostic outcome, a severity index, and measures of social attention and language potential. 

What started as a lab-based prototype has become a lightweight tablet device enabled by Tobii’s compact eye tracking platform. Two large clinical trials confirmed its accuracy and reliability, leading to FDA clearance in 2023. 

The impact: Faster answers, stronger outcomes 

By replacing hours of evaluation with a short, standardized session, EarliPoint enables clinicians to see more children while maintaining the level of diagnostic accuracy. The efficiency of care improves, and national waitlists can shorten, providing families with the support they’ve been waiting for throughout a challenging journey. The system establishes a measurable baseline, and repeated assessments can be used to evaluate progress over time. 

The future: Building a connected care network 

EarliPoint Health is expanding its network of diagnostic and treatment partners to make high-quality autism care accessible nationwide. The company’s next step is to integrate additional biometric data and connect with electronic medical records and research networks, creating a more connected, data-driven approach to neurodevelopmental care. With a strong combination of advanced technology and deep clinical expertise, EarliPoint Health is setting a new standard for early autism diagnosis and support. 

At a glance 

Note: The EarliPoint System device is indicated as a tool to aid qualified clinicians in the diagnosis and assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children ages 16 months through 30 months, who are at risk based on concerns identified by a parent, caregiver, or healthcare provider.