M-CHAT-R/F Autism Screening
A 20-item parent questionnaire that screens for autism risk in children aged 16-30 months.
In one minute
How it works in 3 steps
- The parent completes it: Simple items about the child's development are marked.
- A risk level emerges: A low, moderate, or high risk range is determined.
- It directs to a professional: At moderate and high risk, a detailed assessment is recommended.
Who it informs
When professional support helps
What does the M-CHAT-R/F measure?
The questionnaire assesses simple observations of the child's social communication, joint attention, and interaction behaviours. It makes visible whether there is an early sign of risk.
A moderate or high risk result does not confirm that there is a problem; it only points to a comprehensive developmental assessment being useful. Early assessment is valuable in terms of early support — a positive screen means it is worth a professional assessment, not a label.
How is it scored?
The items are marked and summed; the total score falls into low, moderate, and high risk ranges. At moderate risk, the assessment is deepened with follow-up questions.
- Items
- 20
- Score range
- 0–20
- Administration
- Self / observer report
What do the score bands mean?
The ranges below are a general frame. No band makes a diagnosis on its own; a result only becomes meaningful when a clinical psychologist interprets it alongside your life story.
| Score | General interpretation |
|---|---|
| 0–2 | Low risk |
| 3–7 | Moderate risk – monitoring advised |
| 8–20 | High risk – further assessment needed |
Limitation: It is a screening questionnaire; it does not diagnose autism and never makes a diagnosis on its own. A definitive assessment requires a comprehensive developmental evaluation by a professional team.
Psychometrics and source
With the revised form and the follow-up interview, the positive predictive value has risen markedly compared with the original form; a substantial proportion of screen-positive children are reported to show autism spectrum disorder or another developmental delay.
Original source: Robins, D.L. et al. (2009). M-CHAT-R/F.
How is this scale used at Mete Psikoloji?
At Mete Psikoloji, in early childhood assessment, screening tools like this are used to guide the family and to determine the need for a comprehensive assessment. They can be tracked in the client portal, whether sessions are online or in person.
Related reading
Did your result give you pause?
A scale is only a starting point. By planning an assessment session with our clinical psychologists, you can consider your result alongside the context of your life.