Starting Points: Autism Checklist (CHAT) - I

Let’s say you think your toddler has something not-quite-right about their behavior. He or she doesn’t interact well with others, lacks age-appropriate communication skills, and/or just seems to be in another world a lot of the time. Here are some questions to ask yourself, about your child. We found this to be a heelpful checklist, and there are other, similar lists available:

1. Does your child enjoy being swung, bounced on your knee, etc.? Yes / No

2. Does your child take an interest in other children? Yes / No

3. Does your child like climbing on things, such as up stairs? Yes / No

4. Does your child enjoy playing peek-a-boo or hide-n-seek? Yes / No

5. Does your child ever pretend, for example, to make a cup of tea using a toy cup and
teapot, or pretend other things? Yes / No

6. Does your child ever use his/her index finger to point, to ask for something? Yes / No

7. Does your child ever use his/her index finger to point, to indicate interest in something? Yes / No

8. Can your child play properly with small toys (e.g., cars or bricks) without just mouthing, fiddling, or dropping them? Yes / No

9. Does your child ever bring objects over to you (parent) to show you something? Yes / No

Of course, your answers to these questions will probably not reveal the totality of your child’s condition. But according to the author, three or more “No” responses would indicate a need for further assessment by an autism specialist.

Adapted from Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Simon Baron-Cohen, Department of experimental Psychology and Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, U.K.