Who knows about the CHAT test please - is it designed to include AS as part of the 18 mth check?

[reducedfatkettlechip]

I'm being neurotic I know, but given our concerns about ds1 and possible ASD, I've been keeping a beady eye on ds2 who's now 21 months. He passed the CHAT at about 12 months, and is coming along nicely now, far more chatty and sociable than his big brother but I know AS often doesn't show itself until later on so that is my niggling concern (based on no evidence other than the odd bout of stubborness or raging tantrum - nothing unusual at his age I know!).

What I'm wondering is if the CHAT test is designed to provide an early warning for AS as well - ie are pointing, sharing attention as important indicators in Asperger's as they are in other types of ASD?

As I understand it (yes, have also been obsessing about my 22-month old DS although by now fairly convinced he's NT...) they are pointers for developmental delay, rather than specifically ASD - i.e. almost all kids that fail the CHAT will be diagnosed with some sort of developmental delay but not necessarily ASD. If you google M-CHAT it will take you to the GSU site with all the info about it.

Thanks Brioche, glad you understand! I would never be giving it a thought if it weren't for ds1, but I don't think I'll relax for a while yet - ds1 had a weird eye contact regression thing at about 2.0 but would have failed the CHAT on a couple of things at 18 months.