Reliability and Validity of the Chinese Version of Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised, with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F).
The Chinese M-CHAT-R/F is a trustworthy toddler autism screen ready for clinic or community use.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Guo et al. (2019) translated the M-CHAT-R/F into Chinese. They then checked if the new form still spots toddlers who may have autism.
The team ran standard stats for reliability and validity. They wanted numbers good enough for everyday clinic use.
What they found
The Chinese M-CHAT-R/F caught almost every child later diagnosed with autism. It also kept false alarms low.
High sensitivity and strong specificity mean the tool is ready for routine screening across China.
How this fits with other research
Magán-Maganto et al. (2020) did the same job in Spain. Both studies show the M-CHAT-R/F keeps its power after translation, giving clinicians confidence in two large languages.
Vanvooren et al. (2017) validated the original M-CHAT in French toddlers. Their numbers look a bit different because they skipped the follow-up items. Adding the follow-up, as Cuihua did, tightens accuracy.
Tseng et al. (2010) validated a Chinese motor checklist. Like Cuihua, they proved Western forms can work in China when you adjust wording carefully.
Why it matters
If you screen Mandarin-speaking toddlers, you now have a free, well-tested tool. Use the Chinese M-CHAT-R/F at 18- and 24-month visits. Score in front of parents and explain next steps right away. The high sensitivity means you will miss very few kids, while the strong specificity saves families from needless referrals.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Although early detection of autism facilitates intervention, early detection strategies are not yet widespread in China. To improve the situation, the Chinese version of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F) was validated. The sample included 7928 toddlers, aged 16 to 30 months, screened during their routine care in six provinces of China. When the cut-off value was 3, the sensitivity and specificity of M-CHAT-R were 0.963 and 0.865. The inter-rater reliability and the test-retest reliability were also adequate (intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.853 and 0.759, both ps < .01). The Chinese version of M-CHAT-R/F is an effective tool for early detection of ASD and is applicable to early screening in China.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2019 · doi:10.1007/s10803-018-3682-y