Validity of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT): Preliminary Study in Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Objective: To examine the concurrent and criterion validity of The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. Methods: Two groups, comprising 35 Autistic children previously diagnosed with autism, 113 children without Autistic Disorders. They were selected from different clinical settings: Primary care Clinic, Shumua Al Amal Private Day Care Central for Mental Disable-Dammam and the child psychiatric Clinic of AL Amal Complex for Mental Health-Dammam. To determine the Concurrent validation, ANOVA and discriminate analysis were used to compare the significant different between samples, Control group (normal) and the experimental group (autistic). The Correlation Matrix was used to establish the internal consistence of the (M-CHAT) items and to examine the criterion validity. Results: The mean total score was significantly higher in the group of autistic children than in the other group. In the items of swing, interesting, climbing, playing peek-doo, pretending, Asking, using fingers, Playing with toys, Bringing objects, Over sensitive auditory, Reactive response, Response, Imitation, Pointing, looking, Attention, Deaf, Understanding, Staring & wandering, and Reaction checking. The Reliability Coefficients of items by Alpha = 0.8123 indicates high sensitivity and specificity of M-CHAT, while the content Validity (internal consistence) shows 162 correlation coefficient between the items indicating high validity of M-CHAT. Conclusions: The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) shows promise as an instrument for identifying children with autistic disorders, in primary care clinic for early detection.