Diagnosing PTSD in children has always been a challenge due to their limited ability to express emotions. But now, researchers at the University of South Florida (USF) have developed a revolutionary AI system that detects PTSD in children by analyzing subtle facial expressions-without compromising their privacy.

Led by experts Alison Salloum and Shaun Canavan, the AI system observes micro-expressions like eye movement, head tilt, and mouth tension during therapy sessions. With over 1,80,000 video frames per child, it was trained to recognize emotional distress patterns without storing identifiable features.

This ethical innovation keeps doctor-patient confidentiality intact while giving real-time insights to clinicians. It’s not a replacement for therapists, but a powerful tool that could reduce traumatic interviews and aid early detection. The system may soon be adapted to spot other conditions like anxiety, ADHD, and depression.

If successful, this could redefine how we care for young minds globally.