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Revised Modified Checklist more effective in screening toddlers for autism
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Use of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-up, or MCHAT-R/F, appears accurate in the detection of children at a younger age and reduces the number of children that need follow-up, according to study data in Pediatrics.
Researchers screened 16,071 children aged 18 to 24 months with the MCHAT-R/F. Parents of toddlers considered at risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) completed follow-up forms.
The MCHAT-R/F is a two-stage, level 1 ASD screening tool administered to toddlers. The test classifies children into three risk ranges based on the initial questionnaire responses. Researchers found children who scored in the low-risk range (93% of participants) did not need a follow-up. Children considered at medium risk required follow-up. About one in three children whose parents complete the second stage of the MCHAT-R/F continue to show risk for ASD.
Children who screened positive on the MCHAT-R/F were highly likely to be diagnosed with ASD, according to the researchers. Additionally, 94.6% of children evaluated in the second stage of the MCHAT-R/F exhibited signs of developmental delay that caused intervention.
“The MCHAT-R/F is an effective tool to screen for ASDs in low-risk pediatric samples. Integration of screening and surveillance strategies reduces the age of ASD diagnosis by 2 years, facilitating early intervention and optimizing long-term prognosis. The simplified scoring of the MCHAT-R/F, paired with specific algorithms based on outcome, should ease implementation,” Diana L. Robins, PhD, of Georgia State University, and colleagues concluded.
Disclosure: Robins and two other researchers receive royalties from M-CHAT LLC.
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