A 2-year-old boy has no words, no pointing, poor eye contact, and repetitive hand-flapping. His hearing is normal. He had normal development up to 12 months, then seemed to plateau. Which screening tool is specifically designed and validated for early detection of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in toddlers aged 16–30 months?
- A Denver Developmental Screening Test II (DDST-II)
- B Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS)
- C Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers — Revised (M-CHAT-R) ✓
- D Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales
Correct answer: C. Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers — Revised (M-CHAT-R)
Explanation
The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers — Revised (M-CHAT-R) is a validated parent-report screening instrument specifically designed for detecting ASD risk in toddlers aged 16–30 months in primary care settings. It has a follow-up interview (M-CHAT-R/F) to reduce false positives. CARS (Childhood Autism Rating Scale) is a diagnostic assessment tool, not a screening tool. DDST-II screens for global developmental delay. Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales assess adaptive functioning and are used diagnostically, not as primary ASD screen.
Reference: Ghai Essential Pediatrics, 10th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.