A question about the M-CHAT

[catski]

Not sure if anyone will be able to answer this, but here goes.

I know that the M-CHAT is designed for children between 16 and 30 months. At 16 months old my son failed it, at 18 months he would have passed it about 50% of the time, and by 21 months 100% of the time.

Does anyone know what the significance of putting such a wide age range on it is? Would it just point to the mildness/severity of an ASD perhaps (ie, more severe if still failing it at 30 months)?

No I don't think it points to severity. It's not sophisticated enough for that.

It's just a screening test. It's designed to be usually administered around 18 months, but it's my understanding that if a child of 2 years is causing concern, then it can be applied to that child, also.

Thanks for your comments.

Which items did your DD2 fail on Leonie? My son failed the pointing and following a point at 16 months. By 18 months he followed a point some of the time and also pointed to show items of interest but didn't always make eye contact with me at the same time, so it was a bit of a shaky pass.

Like I said, by 21 months, that had resolved itself. We were given a diagnosis for him a year ago (very mild autism) but I feel he is in such a grey area and I don't know what to do for the best.

Thanks Leonie. I did use the follow up parent interview when I did the test on him all those months ago. I just wonder what the significance is (if any) of certain things resolving themselves. I suppose it might be the difference between a delay and a disorder. I mean, if at 18 months old you are deemed to be six months behind in your development then that's quite a significant delay and could be considered problematic, but if you're six months behind in your development when you're 30 years old, then it's not so important any more and unlikely to be a disabilitating factor on your life.

I'm just waffling now so I think I'd better shut up! I hope all goes well with your daughters. It's very frustrating to be fobbed off when you think there might be a problem.