MODIFIED CHECKLIST FOR AUTISM IN TODDLERS (M-CHAT)
Autism is a complex disorder that generally lasts a person's life. It is called a developmental disability because it starts before age three, in the developmental period, and causes delays or problems with many different ways in which a person develops or grows.
In most cases, autism causes problems with:
Communication, both verbal (spoken) and nonverbal (unspoken)
Social interactions with other people, both physical (such as hugging or holding) and verbal (such as having a conversation)
Routines or repetitive behaviors, like repeating words or actions over and over, obsessively following routines or schedules for their actions, or having very specific ways of arranging their belongings
Early identification and early intervention are the best response to Autistic Spectrum Disorders. Given this fact, the development of reliable tools for screening young children is imperative. The M-CHAT is one of a few tests that shows promise as a screening tool.
Psychometry of the M-CHAT
Developed at the University of Connecticut Department of Psychology, the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) is a 23 item (yes/no) parent report checklist developed to screen children ages 16 months to 30 months old.
Does your child have any symptoms of autism? Please check "YES" or "NO"
YES
NO
1. Does your child enjoy being swung, bounced on your knee, etc.?
2. Does your child take an interest in other children?
3. Does your child like climbing on things, such as up stairs?
4. Does your child enjoy playing peek-a-boo/hide-and-seek?
5. Does your child ever pretend, for example, to talk on the phone or take care of dolls, or pretend other things?
6. Does your child ever use his/her index finger to point, to ask for something?
7. Does your child ever use his/her index finger to point, to indicate interest in something?
8. Can your child play properly with small toys (e.g. cars or bricks) without just mouthing, fiddling, or dropping them?
9. Does your child ever bring objects over to you (parent) to show you something?
10. Does your child look you in the eye for more than a second or two?
11. Does your child ever seem oversensitive to noise? (e.g., plugging ears)
12. Does your child smile in response to your face or your smile?
13. Does your child imitate you? (e.g., you make a face-will your child imitate it?)
14. Does your child respond to his/her name when you call?
15. If you point at a toy across the room, does your child look at it?
16. Does your child walk?
17. Does your child look at things you are looking at?
18. Does your child make unusual finger movements near his/her face?
19. Does your child try to attract your attention to his/her own activity?
20. Have you ever wondered if your child is deaf?
21. Does your child understand what people say?
22. Does your child sometimes stare at nothing or wander with no purpose?
23. Does your child look at your face to check your reaction when faced with something unfamiliar?
A child fails the checklist when 2 or more critical items are failed OR when any three items are failed. YES/NO answers convert to pass/fail responses. Below are listed the failed responses for each item on the M-CHAT. Blue capitalized items are CRITICAL items.
Not all children who fail the checklist will meet criteria for a diagnosis on the autism spectrum. However, children who fail the checklist should be evaluated in more depth by the physician or referred for a developmental evaluation with a specialist.
1. NO
6. NO
11. YES
16. NO
21. NO
2. NO
7. NO
12. NO
17. NO
22. YES
3. NO
8. NO
13. NO
18. YES
23. NO
4. NO
9. NO
14. NO
19. NO
5. NO
10. NO
15. NO
20. YES
Did you know ...
Speech therapy is most effective when children are less than 3 years old
Early referrals avoid later problems
Speech problems run in families, so if you have an older child with speech problems, you should refer your younger children too!
You don't have to ask your doctor for a referral. You can call and make the referral yourself.
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