Developmental characteristics and accuracy of autism screening among two-year-old toddlers in the ECHO program

CONCLUSION: The M-CHAT-H accurately detects children at low risk for autism and children at increased risk with moderate accuracy. These findings support use of the M-CHAT-H in assessing autism risk and developmental and behavioral concerns in children.IMPACT: Previous literature regarding accuracy of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) is mixed but this study provides evidence that the M-CHAT performs well in detecting children at low risk for autism and consistently detects children with developmental delays and behavioral problems. The M-CHAT moderately detects children at increased risk for autism and remains a useful screening tool. This study examines M-CHAT accuracy in a large-scale, nationwide sample, examining associations between screening accuracy and developmental outcomes. These findings impact pediatric screening for autism, supporting continued use of the M-CHAT while further elucidating the factors associated with inaccurate screens.PMID:38622260 | DOI:10.1038/s41390-024-03193-5
Source: Pediatric Research - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Source Type: research