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Comparison of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F) Positive Predictive Value by Race

  • S.I. : Early Detection In Autism Spectrum Disorder
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Abstract

The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised, with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F) is the most widely used screener for ASD. Despite the comparable rate of ASD in Black and White children, the M-CHAT-R/F was validated on a primarily White, Non-Hispanic sample. Few studies have assessed whether the screener performs adequately with racial minorities. This study compared the M-CHAT-R/F Positive Predictive Value (PPV), for ASD, and for any developmental condition, in Black and White children. We also examined M-CHAT-R/F item-level PPV by race. The PPVs for ASD and other developmental disorders were similar in both racial groups for total score and individual items. Therefore, our findings support the use of the M-CHAT-R/F with Black and White children.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the children, caregivers, and pediatric healthcare providers who participated in the current study, as well as the Early Detection Project research teams at the University of Connecticut, Georgia State University, and Drexel University for their assistance with data collection. The authors also acknowledge receiving funding from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01HD039961).

Funding

This study was funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01HD039961).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, 406 Babbidge Road, Unit 1020, Storrs, CT, 06269-1020, USA

    Yael G. Dai, Katelynn S. Porto, Mary Skapek, Marianne L. Barton & Deborah A. Fein

  2. Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, 282 Washington Street, Hartford, CT, 06106, USA

    Thyde Dumont-Mathieu

  3. A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, 3020 Market Street, Suite 560, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Diana L. Robins

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  1. Yael G. Dai
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  2. Katelynn S. Porto
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  3. Mary Skapek
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  5. Thyde Dumont-Mathieu
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  7. Diana L. Robins
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Contributions

YGD participated in conception of the study design, data collection, performance of statistical analyses, interpretation of the data, and drafting of the manuscript; KSP participated in data collection, analyses, and interpretation of results; MS participated in data collection, drafting the manuscript, and interpretation of results; MLB, TD-M, DAF, and DLR participated in conception of the study design, data collection, interpretation of the data, and revising the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yael G. Dai.

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Conflict of interest

Marianne Barton, Diana Robins, and Deborah Fein are co-owners of M-CHAT LLC, which receives royalties from companies that incorporate the M-CHAT-R/F into commercial products. Data reported in this manuscript did not incur any royalties. The remaining authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Dai, Y.G., Porto, K.S., Skapek, M. et al. Comparison of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F) Positive Predictive Value by Race. J Autism Dev Disord 51, 855–867 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04428-0

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