News Report | August 20, 2020
Modified Checklist For Autism In Toddlers Mistakes Intellectual Disability For Autism
The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) often mistakes intellectual disability for autism. It wrongly identifies more than 80% of 18-month-old toddlers with intellectual disability and severe delays as having autism, although they are later found to not have autism. About 70% of toddlers with autism without severe delays are less likely to be identified by the M-CHAT. The M-CHAT is a commonly used autism screening tool. Scoring in the autism “at-risk” range was associated with lower intelligence quotient, impaired functional language, and greater severity of autism symptoms, whether or not the child . . .