A new study conducted by researchers at Florida Atlantic University is proving that infants use more than their ears to learn how to talk. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, tested groups of babies ranging from four to 12 months as well as a group of adults for comparison. Some infants watched a video of a woman speaking in English (their native language), while others watched a woman speaking In Spanish (a foreign language to them).

The researchers were able to use an eye tracking device to record eye movements. The results showed that babies at four months focused their attention almost exclusively on the woman’s eyes. This changed at six to eight months when the children entered the “babbling” stage of language development. This age is when they direct their attention to things that interest them, so their focus on the video shifted to the woman’s mouth as she spoke. Infants “lip read” until they are about 10 months old, which is when they shift their focus back to the eyes as they master the basics of their native language. The Spanish language videos prompted children to continue to read lips as late as 12 months of age because they were unfamiliar with the language.

How does this connect to autism? The data from the study could lead to an earlier diagnosis of autism in babies who focus most of their attention on the mouth past 12 months of age. Lead author in the study, David J. Lewkowicz, tells msnbc.com that these infants “are probably not developing age-appropriate perceptual and cognitive skills and may be at risk for disorders like autism.”

More research is needed, but these results could lead to approximately six months of earlier intervention for autism. The current age of diagnosis based on behavioral testing is 18 months old. “The earlier we can diagnose it, the more effectively we can ensure the best possible developmental outcomes,” Lewkowicz says.

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