The modified checklist for autism in Turkish toddlers: A different cultural adaptation sample

• M-CHAT is reliable and valid when it is administered by face-to-face interview.
• ASDs frequency can be predicted as 1/1000 in children aged 18–30 months in Kayseri.

This study aimed to investigate adaptation of the modified checklist for autism in toddlers (M-CHAT) in a large community sample in Kayseri, a central Anatolian city in Turkey. The M-CHAT was administered to 2021 parents of healthy toddlers aged 18–30 months by a trained team by face-to-face interview at family health centers. Screen positive children and randomly selected screen negative children were evaluated by a child psychiatrist according to diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, text revision (DSM-IV-TR) criteria and childhood autism rating scale (CARS). Screen positive children were re-evaluated at 3 years of age. The M-CHAT detected both cases of autism spectrum disorders that were diagnosed. Cronbach’s α was found to be 0.84 for the 23 items and 0.79 for the 6 critical items. Although the M-CHAT originally was designed to be filled by the parents, this study showed that, in Turkey, the M-CHAT can be used as a screening tool by face-to-face interview method at well child visits.