M-CHAT Early Childhood Autism Screening
The M-CHAT (Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers) is a 23-question screening scale completed by a parent/caregiver to assess autism spectrum risk in young children. It focuses on early social-communication and interaction signs.
- Questions
- 23
- Est. time
- ~8 min
- Delivery
- Online · remote
- Scoring
- Automatic
What does the M-CHAT Early Childhood Autism Screening measure?
- •Joint attention and following pointing
- •Social interaction and eye contact
- •Communication and play behaviors
Who is it for?
Completed by parents/caregivers of young children (roughly 1.5–3 years) to screen early for autism risk.
How is the M-CHAT Early Childhood Autism Screening scored and interpreted?
Responses are evaluated by the number of questions marked in the risk direction; a result above a certain threshold indicates a recommendation for further evaluation. The result is a risk screen, not a diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions does the M-CHAT have?
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This form has 23 questions and is completed by a parent/caregiver.
Does the M-CHAT diagnose autism?
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No. The M-CHAT is a screening tool; children at higher risk are recommended for comprehensive clinical evaluation. Diagnosis is made only by a professional.
What age is the M-CHAT used for?
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It is used to screen for autism risk in early childhood (roughly 1.5–3 years).
Related scales
- Ankara Developmental Screening Inventory (AGTE)A caregiver-report inventory screening the development of 0–6 year-old children across four areas.
- Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)A 25-item scale screening emotional and behavioural difficulties across 5 subscales in children aged 4–17.
- 2-Year Developmental ChecklistA 31-item checklist tracking the psychomotor, cognitive and language development of children aged 24–36 months through teacher or parent observation.
- Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT)A clinician-administered, individually applied test measuring receptive language and picture-word vocabulary in children.
Source: Robins, D. L., Fein, D., Barton, M. L., & Green, J. A. (2001).
This page is informational and does not contain the actual questions. The M-CHAT Early Childhood Autism Screening is a screening/assessment tool and does not provide a diagnosis on its own. Results should be interpreted only by a licensed mental-health professional as part of a clinical evaluation.
Administer the M-CHAT Early Childhood Autism Screening to your clients
With Psikometri, assign this scale remotely via a single link; results are scored automatically and turned into a report. No credit card required.
- ✓Automatic scoring and severity band
- ✓One-click, branded PDF reports
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