A wristband that can feel distress coming, a minute or two early

For many autistic children and their families, a difficult moment can seem to arrive from nowhere. New research reviewed by clinicians at the Tavistock and Portman NHS service, now part of North London NHS Foundation Trust, with University College London, suggests the body often whispers first. Across studies involving 246 participants, simple wrist and ankle bands powered by artificial intelligence picked up small changes in heart rate, skin response and movement one to three minutes before distress built up. That short warning gives a parent, teacher or carer time to soften the noise, offer a familiar coping strategy, or simply make space — turning a crisis into a calmer moment. The bands look like ordinary watches or soft straps and were worn comfortably, including at school. It is early proof, not a finished product, and the researchers want longer tests in homes and classrooms, designed with autistic young people themselves.

SDG 3 · Good health and well-being — Mechanism: tech innovation