Expert: James Michael Roan - 12/12/2007

Question
I emailed you on monday re my 2 year old and you suggested I complete the M-CHAT checklist.  Since he is over 2 I completed the Autism treatment evaluation checklist further down the page.
Here are the results:
***TOTAL AND SUBSCALE SCORES***
Total Score: 61
I. Speech/Language/Communication: 8
II. Sociability: 8
III. Sensory/Cognitive Awareness: 15
IV.  Health/Physical/Behavior: 30

**I. Speech/Language/Communication
1. Knows own name: Very true
2. Responds to `No' or `Stop':  Somewhat true
3. Can follow some commands:  Very true
4. Can use one word at a time:  Very true
5. Can use 2 words at a time:  Very true
6. Can use 3 words at a time:  Very true
7. Knows 10 or more words:  Very true
8. Can use sentences with 4 or  more words:  Very true
9. Explains what he/she wants:  Somewhat true
10. Asks meaningful questions:  Somewhat true
11. Speech tends to be meaningful/relevant:  Somewhat true
12. Often uses several successive sentences: Not true
13. Carries on fairly good conversation:  Somewhat true
14. Has normal ability to com municate for his/her age:  Somewhat true

**II. Sociability
1. Seems to be in a shell - you cannot reach him/her:  Not descriptive
2. Ignores other people:  Somewhat descriptive
3. Pays little or no attention when addressed:  Somewhat descriptive
4. Uncooperative and resistant:  Not descriptive
5. No eye contact:  Somewhat descriptive
6. Prefers to be left alone:  Not descriptive
7. Shows no affection:  Not descriptive
8. Fails to greet parents:  Not descriptive
9. Avoids contact with others:  Somewhat descriptive
10. Does not imitate:  Not descriptive
11. Dislikes being held/cuddled:  Not descriptive
12. Does not share or show:  Somewhat descriptive
13. Does not wave `bye bye':  Not descriptive
14. Disagreeable/not compliant:  Somewhat descriptive
15. Temper tantrums:  Somewhat descriptive
16. Lacks friends/companions:  Somewhat descriptive
17. Rarely smiles:  Not descriptive
18. Insensitive to other's feelings:  Not descriptive
19. Indifferent to being liked:  Not descriptive
20. Indifferent if parent(s) leave:  Not descriptive

**III.  Sensory/Cognitive Awareness
1. Responds to own name:  Somewhat descriptive
2. Responds to praise:  Somewhat descriptive
3. Looks at people and animals:  Very descriptive
4. Looks at pictures (and T.V.):  Very descriptive
5. Does drawing, coloring, art:  Somewhat descriptive
6. Plays with toys appropriately:  Somewhat descriptive
7. Appropriate facial expression:  Somewhat descriptive
8. Understands stories on T.V.:  Very descriptive
9. Understands explanations:  Somewhat descriptive
10. Aware of environment:  Somewhat descriptive
11. Aware of danger:  Not descriptive
12. Shows imagination:  Somewhat descriptive
13. Initiates activities:  Somewhat descriptive
14. Dresses self:  Not descriptive
15. Curious, interested:  Somewhat descriptive
16. Venturesome - explores:  Very descriptive
17. Tuned in - Not spacey:  Somewhat descriptive
18. Looks where others are looking:  Very descriptive

**IV. Health/Physical/Behavior
1. Bed-wetting:  Not a Problem
2. Wets pants/diapers:  Moderate Problem
3. Soils pants/diapers:  Moderate Problem
4. Diarrhea:  Minor Problem
5. Constipation:  Minor Problem
6. Sleep problems:  Minor Problem
7. Eats too much/too little:  Minor Problem
8. Extremely limited diet:  Not a Problem
9. Hyperactive:  Minor Problem
10. Lethargic:  Minor Problem
11. Hits or injures self:  Minor Problem
12. Hits or injures others:  Minor Problem
13. Destructive:  Minor Problem
14. Sound-sensitive:  Minor Problem
15. Anxious/fearful:  Moderate Problem
16. Unhappy/crying:  Minor Problem
17. Seizures:  Not a Problem
18. Obsessive speech:  Serious Problem
19. Rigid routines:  Minor Problem
20. Shouts or screams:  Moderate Problem
21. Demands sameness:  Minor Problem
22. Often agitated:  Not a Problem
23. Not sensitive to pain:  Minor Problem
24. Hooked or fixated on certain objects/topics:  Serious Problem
25. Repetitive movements:  Moderate Problem


Answer
Hi Ruth;

I still neeed to see the M-CHAT please. It's good for 24-36 months. The ATEC is good for different reasons. Please elaborate, if you are willing, on the following answers:

9. Explains what he/she wants:  Somewhat true

10. Asks meaningful questions:  Somewhat true

11. Speech tends to be meaningful/relevant:  Somewhat true
{I need to know details to understand his cognitive development underlying his skill or lack thereof in this area.]

12. Does not share or show:  Somewhat descriptive

16. Lacks friends/companions:  Somewhat descriptive

6. Plays with toys appropriately:  Somewhat descriptive

7. Appropriate facial expression:  Somewhat descriptive

10. Aware of environment:  Somewhat descriptive

11. Aware of danger:  Not descriptive

12. Shows imagination:  Somewhat descriptive

17. Tuned in - Not spacey:  Somewhat descriptive

15. Anxious/fearful:  Moderate Problem

24. Hooked or fixated on certain objects/topics:  Serious Problem

25. Repetitive movements:  Moderate Problem

Regards,
James