Accuracy of Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) in detecting autism and other developmental disorders in community clinics

Toh TH 1 , Tan VW 2 , Lau PS 3 , Kiyu A 4

Affiliations 

  • 1 Lau King Howe Memorial Children Clinic, Divisional Health Office & Department of Pediatrics, Sibu Hospital, KM 8, Old Oya Road, 96000, Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia. tohth@moh.gov.my
  • 2 Clinical Research Center, Sibu Hospital, Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia
  • 3 Lau King Howe Memorial Children Clinic, Divisional Health Office & Department of Pediatrics, Sibu Hospital, KM 8, Old Oya Road, 96000, Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia
  • 4 Public Health Research Unit, Sarawak State Health Department, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
J Autism Dev Disord, 2018 01;48(1):28-35.
PMID: 28866856 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-017-3287-x

Abstract

This study determined the accuracy of Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) in detecting toddlers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disorders (DD) in community mother and child health clinics. We analysed 19,297 eligible toddlers (15-36 months) who had M-CHAT performed in 2006-2011. Overall sensitivities for detecting ASD and all DD were poor but better in the 21 to <27 months and 27-36-month age cohorts (54.5-64.3%). Although positive predictive value (PPV) was poor for ASD, especially the younger cohort, positive M-CHAT helped in detecting all DD (PPV = 81.6%). This suggested M-CHAT for screening ASD was accurate for older cohorts (>21 months) and a useful screening tool for all DD.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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