User:OpeningAutism/M-CHAT

M-CHAT The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) is a tool used to screen children for developmental delays that may be associated with autism. The M-CHAT was developed at the University of Connecticut's Department of Psychology, and is an expanded American version of the original CHAT from the U.K. The M-CHAT has 23 questions using the original nine from the CHAT as its basis. The goal of the ongoing M-CHAT research is to demonstrate adequate psychometric properties of the M-CHAT (sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive power).

M-CHAT is designed to screen children aged 16 months to 30 months-old for an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The M-CHAT questionnaire is a 23-item, parent-completed form that generally takes five to seven minutes to be completed and a brief time for staff to score. Pediatricians and family doctors often use this questionnaire during a child's developmental “well child” check-up visits at 18 and 24 months, which is now recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). M-CHAT is only a screening tool and does not indicate a formal or specific diagnosis for developmental delay or autism. It is designed to be overly inclusive, so that it tends to flag not only children with developmental delay, but also a proportion of completely normal children. A positive M-CHAT result therefore does not mean that a child has developmental delay. However they will almost always benefit from a more complete assessment and possible early intervention services.

The M-CHAT is free to use but is copyrighted by Robins, Fein, & Barton, and use of the M-CHAT must follow their guidelines.