Compatible with iPhone
and iPod Touch
Autism M-CHAT
iAutism Toddler Screening Tool, also known as Autism M-CHAT or simply M-CHAT, is the only validated tool for screening toddlers between 16 and 30 months of age to assess the risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). No, it's not a diagnostic tool, it's a screening tool. What's the difference? If you screen a child and the results of the screening lead you to believe there's a possibility of autism, then you should get your child in to be assessed for ASD and a possible diagnosis. This iPhone app is an excellent tool to do the screening if you suspect autism. If your child has autism why would you want a diagnosis? Because early intervention is proven to make a substantial difference in your child's development.
M-CHAT for iPhone is colorful, functional, and it's a piece of cake to use. Obviously, if your child has already been diagnosed with autism you're not going to need this app. But professionals out there will find it handy and so will parents who suspect their child has autism. This app can reaffirm what you suspect, or it can give you a reason to relax.
M-CHAT can email the results of the test to your pediatrician if need be. That could really help facilitate a discussion around developmental disabilities. By-the-way, in 2004 when my son was diagnosed with autism this was one of the tests the doctors used... but it wasn't on the iPhone back then. If it had been, and if I owned an iPhone back then, you can bet I would've bought this app and screened my son on my own. Then I would've cried, prayed, gathered myself, and got my son the help he needs.
Beware that sometimes M-CHAT is priced low and sometimes it's ridiculously high. I've seen the developer price it from free all the way up to $95. Buying this little autism app is sorta like playing Russian Roulette! So keep your eyes open and catch it while it's reasonably priced.
I've noticed in recent versions of M-CHAT the developers have employed the use of advertisements in the opening screens. Ugh! Nobody likes advertisements, but as you can see on this webpage, I understand why they are sometimes necessary. Nobody paid me to develop this webpage, and I'm guessing nobody paid the developer of M-CHAT to develop that app. The reality is that they have to make money somehow. And M-CHAT is a nicely polished iPhone app and autism screening tool that has been well adapted to the Apple devices. This app has been much needed for a long time!
