Which tool is used to screen for autism risk in toddlers?

• A. M-CHAT-R/F
• B. AAP Autism Screening Questionnaire
• C. Parents' Concern Interview
• D. CBCL

Answer: (A)

Screening for autism risk in toddlers relies on a brief, validated tool that parents can complete quickly and that specifically flags children who may need further evaluation. The M-CHAT-R/F fits this purpose for toddlers around 16 to 30 months. It starts with a 20-item parent questionnaire, and if the initial results indicate risk, a follow-up interview (the follow-up section) asks targeted questions to clarify responses. This two-step process reduces false positives and improves accuracy, letting clinicians identify children who may benefit from a comprehensive diagnostic assessment sooner.

Other options aren’t as well suited for universal autism risk screening in toddlers. The AAP Autism Screening Questionnaire isn’t the standard, widely adopted toddler screener used in primary care. The Parents’ Concern Interview gathers parental concerns but isn’t a validated screening tool with a scoring system for autism risk. The CBCL is a broad checklist of behavioral and emotional problems, not specific to autism risk screening in young children.