Developmental characteristics and accuracy of autism screening among two-year-old toddlers in the ECHO program.

Previous literature regarding accuracy of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) is mixed but this study provides evidence that the M-CHAT performs well in detecting children at low risk for autism and consistently detects children with developmental delays and behavioral problems. The M-CHAT moderately detects children at increased risk for autism and remains a useful screening tool. This study examines M-CHAT accuracy in a large-scale, nationwide sample, examining associations between screening accuracy and developmental outcomes. These findings impact pediatric screening for autism, supporting continued use of the M-CHAT while further elucidating the factors associated with inaccurate screens.