Starting Points: Autism Checklist (CHAT) - II

Continuation (from 10 days ago) of a helpful "CHAT" list to assist in determining autistic tendencies in a child:

If you think your child may have autism, by all means be sure to see a professional who can assist in that determination. A child neurologist can be very helpful, and will be asking questions about the types and qualities of interactive behaviors from your son or daughter. This list is adapted from Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (CHAT), Simon Baron-Cohen, University of Cambridge:

10. During the appointment, has the child made eye contact with you? Yes / No

11. Get the child’s attention, then point across the room at an interesting object and say, “Oh look! There’s a (name a toy!” Watch the child’s face. Does the child look across to see what you are pointing at? * Yes / No

12. Get the child’s attention, and then give the child a miniature toy cup, teapot, and say, “Can you make a cup of tea?” Does the child pretend to pour out tea, drink it, etc.? ** Yes / No

13. Say to the child, “Where’s the light?” or “Show me the light”. Does the child point with his/her index finger at the light? *** Yes / No

14. Can the child build a tower of bricks? If so, how many? Yes / No

* To record Yes on this item, ensure the child has not simply looked at your hand, but has actually looked at the object you are pointing at.

** If you can elicit an example of pretending in some other game, score Yes on this item.

*** Repeat this with “Where’s the teddy?” or some other unreachable object if the child does not understand the word light. To record Yes on this item, the child must have looked up at your face around the time of pointing.

Implications: Three or more No responses would indicate a need for further assessment by an Autism specialist (see State criteria).

This CHAT list is a tool we used as we evaluated our son's condition. It was a remarkable exercise to go through, and we were, frankly, somewhat astonished at the number of "No" answers we gave.