Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT)

M-CHAT is a list of 23 yes-or-no questions about a child’s usual behavior for parents of 16- to 30-month-old children to answer. If M-CHAT is used on children younger or older than the age range on which it was validated, or if someone other than the child’s parent completes the M-CHAT, the results may not be valid.

The primary goal of the M-CHAT is to maximize sensitivity, meaning to identify as many potential cases of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as possible. For this reason, M-CHAT tends to have a high false-positive rate (not all children who are found to be at risk for developing ASD using M-CHAT will go on to be diagnosed with ASD). To reduce the false-positive rate, a follow-up interview is suggested.