Screening

Screening for autism and developmental delay

Screening tools can be used to determine if a child requires further assessment. The two most commonly used if autism is suspected are the MCHAT and the ADEC.

The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (MCHAT) is available online and can be completed in minutes www.rch.org.au/emplibrary/clinicalguide/m-chat.pdf.

The Autism Detection in Early Childhood (ADEC) is designed to be used by GPs, maternal healthcare nurses, allied healthcare professionals and special educators from the age of 12 months.

In both cases these screening tools are designed to detect as many cases of autism as possible and may produce false positives. This means that some children may "fail" a screening test but not go on to be diagnosed with autism. However, as these children are at risk for other developmental disorders or delays, further assessments and evaluation are warranted for any child who fails a screening test.