Project - would I be able to get this info re CHAT test?

[Wallace]

Just started a degree in Child and Youth studies and we have a group project to do.

I though we could find out if the CHAT (Checklist for Autism in Toddlers) test is used in different areas of the country, and the rates of early diagnosis in thoses areas. Hopefully we would find that the areas in which CHAT is used would have a high rate of early diagnosis.

This is just at the idea stage at the moment. Does anyone know if it is possible to find out the information we need (if CHAT is used & rates of diagnosis)?

I am a complete novice at this sp please help! Also this is to be a short project, but I think we could keep it fairly basic.

I'm not sure if there are any definite statistics but the NAS may possibly be able to help. Their website is here They have a page on the CHAT test with addresses for further info AFAIK.

It sounds like a really interesting project.

Thanks, I will have a look at your link. Do you think if we contacted the health board(or whatever) in each area directly, they would give out the sort of information we're looking for?

I really don't know tbh but it may be worth a try. If you also start a thread on the SN board there may be someone on there with more info.

The NAS website is really helpful, thanks. It has contact details for people involved in research into CHAT, so that may be helpful. It also has journal references about CHAT, so that has saved me some time spent browsing

I will post on special needs tomorrow - my brain is shutting down for the night [gerin]

Good luck. It really does sound like a great project.

just reread the guidlines and it says we are only allowed to survey other students. so we are thinking to simplify it; our aim would just be to find out if CHAT is routinely used.

makes it alot easier actually