Which screening tool is used for autism risk at 18 and 24 months?

Which screening tool is used for autism risk at 18 and 24 months?

• A. ABAS
• B. Bayley Scales
• C. M-CHAT
• D. CHAT

Answer: (C)

Screening for autism risk in toddlers at the 18- to 24-month visits is typically done with a brief parent-completed questionnaire designed for that age. The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) is specifically created to identify early signs of autism in children around this age. It quickly flags children who may need a more thorough evaluation and is often used in its updated form as M-CHAT-R with a Follow-Up to improve accuracy and reduce false positives. In contrast, tools like the Bayley Scales and ABAS assess broader development or adaptive functioning and are not autism-specific screeners, and CHAT is an earlier instrument that has largely been superseded by M-CHAT-R/F for current practice. Thus, M-CHAT is the screening tool used to assess autism risk at 18 and 24 months.

Screening for autism risk in toddlers at the 18- to 24-month visits is typically done with a brief parent-completed questionnaire designed for that age. The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) is specifically created to identify early signs of autism in children around this age. It quickly flags children who may need a more thorough evaluation and is often used in its updated form as M-CHAT-R with a Follow-Up to improve accuracy and reduce false positives. In contrast, tools like the Bayley Scales and ABAS assess broader development or adaptive functioning and are not autism-specific screeners, and CHAT is an earlier instrument that has largely been superseded by M-CHAT-R/F for current practice. Thus, M-CHAT is the screening tool used to assess autism risk at 18 and 24 months.