Analysis of Internet-Based Medical Apps for Autism Intervention: Market Overview and Product Insights

According to the "Report on the Development of Children with Autism in China," jointly released this October by the Autism Research Guidance Center of the Family Education Professional Committee of the Chinese Society of Education, the Wucailu Children's Behavior Correction Center, and Xinhua Public Welfare, it is estimated that the number of individuals with autism in China may exceed 10 million, with the number of children aged 0 to 14 potentially surpassing 2 million. The prevalence rate is higher in boys than in girls, with a male-to-female ratio of approximately 4:1 or 5:1.

According to VCBeat, the educational development of children with autism in mainland China can be broadly divided into three stages:
1. 1950s–1980s: The term “autism” was little known, with only five cases diagnosed as autism.
2. Mid-1980s to Late 1990s: Prior to the 1990s, autism was frequently misdiagnosed as intellectual disability, hyperactivity, speech developmental delay, deaf-mutism, schizophrenia, childhood psychosis, or even sporadic encephalitis. It did not gain significant attention until 1992, remaining in an early stage of understanding, with nearly 50 cases diagnosed as autism during this period. Subsequently, private institutions, social organizations, and state-run agencies providing educational services for children with autism and their families were established one after another.
3. Since the beginning of this century: An increasing number of grassroots, self-organized rehabilitation associations and parent support groups have emerged across various regions, while private training institutions for children with autism have grown from a single entity to several hundred.

As time goes by, the growing attention from the government and society is indeed commendable. However, current training institutions still fail to meet the rising number of individuals with autism. In China, institutions providing training for children with autism can accommodate fewer than 50,000 children. Coupled with the fact that there are fewer than 100 doctors specializing in autism treatment in our country, the vast majority of patients do not have access to professional educational and rehabilitative services and must rely solely on care provided by their guardians.

However, surveys indicate that parents of children with autism in China typically spend two years searching for the cause of their child’s condition and another four years seeking intervention methods. By then, six years have passed, and the optimal window for treatment has been missed. Moreover, each individual with autism generally requires care from two to three people, with monthly costs ranging from 3,000 to 4,000 yuan. Ultimately, many parents are left with no choice but to give up.

In recent years, with the rise of mobile internet, treatment models for autism have quietly evolved, giving birth to autism-focused apps. According to statistics from VCBeat’s Internet Healthcare Research Institute, based on data compiled by Autism Speaks, there are currently over 500 mobile health applications for autism worldwide, among which 38 have been scientifically proven to benefit individuals with autism. As the domestic market is still in its early stages, only eight such apps have been identified in China so far. VCBeat’s Internet Healthcare Research Institute conducted a brief analysis of these applications and found that overseas autism apps primarily focus on treatment, whereas those in China concentrate on prevention and cognitive enhancement.

Domestic autism apps are all free, while international ones are mainly priced between $0 and $4.99
Statistical data reveal that domestic autism apps in China adopt a free model, primarily focusing on the promotion and dissemination of autism-related knowledge. In contrast, international autism apps are mostly priced between $0 and $4.99, with the most expensive one costing $19.90. This difference may be attributed to the earlier development of autism apps abroad, which were designed primarily as commercial applications to support the treatment of individuals with autism.

Abroad, autism app users are primarily patients; in China, they are primarily caregivers.
From a statistical perspective, users of mobile health applications for autism are specifically categorized into five groups: patients (preschool children (2–5 years), children (6–12 years), adolescents (13–17 years), and adults (18+ years)) and caregivers. In China, the user base is predominantly composed of caregivers, accounting for nearly 88%. There is only one application designed specifically for communication and social interaction training for individuals with autism: “Xiao Yu Di.” In contrast, international markets are primarily driven by patients themselves. Among the four age groups classified, children constitute the largest segment, representing 68% of users.

Domestic and international mobile health applications for autism are predominantly text- and image-based.
Among the statistically analyzed autism apps, both domestic and international products primarily utilize text-and-image formats. However, approximately eight international apps also incorporate multimedia elements such as voiceovers and animated videos. In China, where products focus mainly on enhancing caregivers’ awareness of autism, current offerings have not yet integrated voice or animation features.

# Foreign Autism Apps Primarily Use Game-Based Training Methods
Among the statistics, there are three types of autism app training methods: games, inspirational stories, and information. Foreign apps mainly focus on game-based training, using visual stimulation and animation effects to operate the games, thereby training patients' physical fitness, sensory perception, movement, intelligence, cognition, and other developmental aspects. Currently, domestic apps primarily feature inspirational stories, which are narrated by caregivers to the patients.

Overseas Autism Apps Focus Primarily on Language Training
An analysis of international apps revealed that product training content primarily falls into five categories: language, behavioral skills, cognitive abilities, communication, and social skills. The primary focus is on training language and behavioral skills in individuals with autism, with social skills ranked last. This does not imply that social skills are unimportant; rather, for both patients and enterprises, product features should align with the actual needs of patients to achieve optimal synergy.

Foreign products focus primarily on treatment, while domestic products emphasize cognitive enhancement in their marketing.
According to VCBeat, autism research abroad began 40 years earlier than in China, so products are largely focused on treatment. In contrast, there are many misconceptions about autism among the general public in China, with some people completely unaware of the condition. Therefore, products in China primarily aim to raise public awareness, often disseminating knowledge about autism through public welfare initiatives.



Prior to publication on VCBeat, we noted that Samsung, in collaboration with a research team based in Seoul, South Korea, recently launched a mobile app called “Look At Me,” specifically designed to assist children with autism. Clinical trial results indicated that after eight weeks of training, 60% of the 20 participating children showed some improvement in emotion recognition. VCBeat also looks forward to greater participation from entrepreneurs and investors in China, achieving both social impact and business success.

Appendix: Major Domestic Mobile Health Apps for Autism Spectrum Disorders

Appendix: Selected Major International Mobile Health Apps for Autism Spectrum Disorder

(To stay updated on the latest internet healthcare startup news, please follow VCBeat’s WeChat official account: vcbeat. We also welcome you to engage with us on topics of interest, contact us via WeChat, and share your research insights.)