The checklist for Autism in Toddlers (CHAT) is a set of diagnostic criteria that can be used to screen children at 18 months of age. This is a big improvement over the more traditional criteria because it can catch autism earlier. It is designed to be administered by a physician but is easy enough that any parent capable of being objective can administer it. The first part consists of nine YES/NO questions:

1. Do they like to be swung and bounced?
2. Are they interested in other children?
3. Do they climb?
4. Do they play peek-a-boo or hide and seek?
5. Do they pretend?
6. Do they use their finger to point to something they want?
7. Do they point to indicate interest or to have you look?
8. Do they play properly with small toys?
9. Do they ever bring toys over to show you?

The second part requires observation of the child then answering five questions:

1. Does the child make eye contact?
2. After getting the child’s attention, pointing across the room at some object and asking the child to look, did they look at the object or your finger?
3. Can you get them to demonstrate pretend play?
4. After getting the child’s attention and asking them to show you some unreachable object, do they point to the object?
5. Can the child build a tower?

The test scores a severe risk of autism when the child fails (answer is NO) the bold questions (Part 1, questions 5,7 and Part 2, questions 2,3,4). There is score of mild risk if the child fails only the pointing tasks (Part 1, questions 6,7 and Part 2, questions 2,4). A child is at risk for other developmental disorders if they fail more than three questions. This test and has been given to more than 15,000 infants with some success in predicting autism.

If you think your child is at risk of autism, you need to contact your pediatrician immediately. Children with autism have no time to loose. There are effective treatments available, but they are most effective when started early. To learn more about treating autism read Conquer Autism.

Read more free autism articles on this website:

Understanding Autism / Autism Causes-Toxic Heavy Metals / Autism Diagnosis and Evaluation / Signs and Symptoms-Play / Signs and Symptoms-Language Problems / Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) / Indications for Immediate Evaluation / After the Diagnosis / After the Diagnosis-Assembling and Managing the Team / Conquer Autism Chapter Summary

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