Child health & development
Early Autism Screening (M-CHAT-R)
A first-step screen for children aged 16–30 months — 20 simple questions about your child's behaviour.
Last updated: June 2026
Important before you start
This is an awareness screening tool, not a diagnosis. An accurate diagnosis requires a professional evaluation. If you are concerned, consult your pediatrician or a child-development specialist.
Answer Yes or No based on your child's usual behaviour. It takes a few minutes, and we don't store any data.
Suitable for children aged 16–30 months
How is the result scored?
We count the answers that may indicate possible risk: 0–2 low likelihood, 3–7 medium, and 8–20 high.
The 20 screening questions
- If you point at something across the room, does your child look at it?
- Have you ever wondered if your child might be deaf?
- Does your child play pretend or make-believe?
- Does your child like climbing on things?
- Does your child make unusual finger movements near his or her eyes?
- Does your child point with one finger to ask for something or to get help?
- Does your child point with one finger to show you something interesting?
- Is your child interested in other children?
- Does your child show you things by bringing them to you or holding them up, just to share (not to get help)?
- Does your child respond when you call his or her name?
- When you smile at your child, does he or she smile back at you?
- Does your child get upset by everyday noises?
- Does your child walk?
- Does your child look you in the eye when you are talking to, playing with, or dressing him or her?
- Does your child try to copy what you do?
- If you turn your head to look at something, does your child look around to see what you are looking at?
- Does your child try to get you to watch him or her?
- Does your child understand when you tell him or her to do something?
- If something new happens, does your child look at your face to see how you feel about it?
- Does your child like movement activities?
Where to go after the screen
- Your pediatrician: the starting point for any concern about development.
- Child-development and speech assessment centres for a specialist evaluation.
- Child Helpline 16000: free, 24/7, for support and guidance.
Frequently asked questions
What is the M-CHAT-R?
It is a 20-question parent questionnaire that screens for possible early signs of autism in toddlers. It is a widely used first-step screen, recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics as part of routine screening.
What age is the screen for?
It is designed and validated for children aged 16 to 30 months. Outside this range the result may not be accurate.
Does the result mean an autism diagnosis?
No. This is an awareness screening tool, not a diagnosis. A higher result means a professional evaluation is helpful, but diagnosis requires a doctor or child-development specialist.
My child scored high, what should I do?
Contact your pediatrician or a child-development specialist for an evaluation, without undue worry. Early intervention makes a real difference, and you can show this result to the specialist.
Are my answers stored?
No. The result is calculated on your own device, and we do not store or send any data about your child.
M-CHAT-R/F™ © 2009 Diana Robins, Deborah Fein, and Marianne Barton. Arabic translation: Prof. Suaad Moussa et al. (2014). Used for educational and awareness purposes.
Sources: mchatscreen.com · CDC