When there are questions about a child, a score can feel huge. This new questionnaire may one day help open a conversation. Today, it is still at an early stage.
- This is a screening questionnaire, not a diagnosis.
- It had promising but only preliminary results.
- A score never tells a whole child’s story.
Questions you can take with you
You do not need to become an expert. These questions can help you talk with a professional or support provider.
- What support does my child need now?
- Who can discuss the result with us carefully?
- What do we notice in daily life beyond a score?
Want the study details?Sample, method and evidence type
- Caregivers
- 165
- Educators
- 107
- Stage
- Preliminary
Read on for what was studied, what was found and what remains uncertain.
A checklist is a doorbell, not an answer
Some autistic children are not identified until school. A questionnaire might help notice that a child could benefit from a closer look or more support.
But a screening result cannot tell a family who their child is. It cannot replace listening to the child, their family and the people who know their everyday life.
What this first study found
The researchers asked 165 caregivers and 107 educators to complete the M-CHAT-S alongside other questionnaires. Scores related more strongly to an autism-trait measure than to a general behaviour measure.
Children with an existing autism diagnosis scored higher than non-autistic children. Internal consistency was good. Yet test–retest and agreement between raters were moderate, not strong.
Why the word preliminary matters
This is the start of validation, not the finish. The authors plan work with school districts. We do not yet know how the tool performs across different communities, languages, cultures or support needs.
A high score is not a diagnosis. A low score does not erase a child’s needs. If there are questions about development or support, a careful professional conversation is more useful than trying to interpret a score alone.
Limitations to keep in view
- This is an initial validation, not a study of universal school screening or clinical diagnosis.
- Test–retest and agreement between raters were moderate, which limits confidence in an individual score.
- The study cannot show whether using the checklist improves access to support or outcomes for children.
Preliminary Reliability and Validity of the M-CHAT-S, a New Autism Screening Tool for School-Aged Children
de Marchena A, Wieckowski AT, Dickerson AF, Cheng HS, Perez Liz G, Dubin A, Vivanti G, Barton M, Fein D, Robins DL
Autism · 2026
This article provides general information and does not replace individualized medical, psychological or educational advice.