Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT)

Background

The Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) is an early developmental screening questionnaire designed to measure autism-spectrum related traits in toddlers.

The questionnaire focuses on early social communication, language development, eye contact, repetitive behaviors, sensory sensitivity, gestures, pretend play, and flexibility in daily routines.

The Q-CHAT is commonly used by parents, caregivers, researchers, and developmental professionals to identify early developmental patterns that may benefit from further observation or developmental evaluation.

The questionnaire explores several important developmental areas:
- Social Attention
- Communication and Language
- Repetitive Behavior
- Sensory Sensitivity
- Flexibility and Adaptation
- Play and Imagination

Social Attention measures eye contact, shared attention, emotional awareness, and social engagement.

Communication and Language measure speech development, gestures, language understanding, and social communication.

Repetitive Behavior measures repetitive movements, routines, restricted interests, and repetitive play behaviors.

Sensory Sensitivity measures unusual sensory responses, sound sensitivity, and sensory-seeking behaviors.

Flexibility and Adaptation measure adjustment to changes, transitions, and behavioral flexibility.

Play and Imagination measure pretend play, imaginative behavior, and developmental interaction with objects and people.

The Q-CHAT is designed as a developmental screening tool and should not be used as a standalone diagnostic instrument.

Procedure

This questionnaire is designed to be completed by parents, caregivers, or adults who regularly observe the child.

Please answer each question based on the child's usual social interaction, communication, sensory responses, play behaviors, and developmental patterns.

Participants select the response option that best describes the child's current behavior and developmental functioning.

Participation

This assessment is designed for toddlers and young children and is intended for educational, research, and developmental screening purposes only.

Results should not be considered a clinical diagnosis or substitute for a professional developmental, psychological, or medical evaluation.

Scoring & Interpretation

Responses are scored based on developmental frequency and behavioral patterns. Higher scores generally indicate stronger autism-spectrum related developmental traits and behaviors.

The Q-CHAT is commonly used as an early developmental screening instrument to help identify children who may benefit from additional developmental evaluation or early intervention support.

Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) Questionnaire

Instructions & Terms

Below is the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT), a digitally adapted 25- items self-assessment questionnaire. This assessment does not provide a clinical diagnosis, medical determination, or substitute for professional psychological evaluation.

Question 1 of 25 Social Attention

Does your child look at you when you call his/her name?

Never Rarely Sometimes Usually Always

Question 2 of 25 Social Attention

How easy is it for you to get eye contact with your child?

Impossible Very difficult Quite difficult Quite easy Very easy

Question 3 of 25 Repetitive Behavior

When your child is playing alone, does s/he line objects up?

Never Rarely Sometimes Usually Always

Question 4 of 25 Communication and Language

Can other people easily understand your child's speech?

My child does not speak Rarely Sometimes Usually Always

Question 5 of 25 Communication and Language

Does your child point to indicate that s/he wants something?

Never Less than once a week A few times a week A few times a day Many times a day

Question 6 of 25 Social Attention

Does your child point to share interest with you?

Never Less than once a week A few times a week A few times a day Many times a day

Question 7 of 25 Repetitive Behavior

How long can your child's interest be maintained by a spinning object?

Less than a minute A couple of minutes Ten minutes Half an hour Several hours

Question 8 of 25 Communication and Language

How many words can your child say?

None - s/he has not started speaking yet Less than 10 words 10-50 words 51-100 words Over 100 words

Question 9 of 25 Play and Imagination

Does your child pretend (e.g. care for dolls, talk on a toy phone)?

Never Less than once a week A few times a week A few times a day Many times a day

Question 10 of 25 Social Attention

Does your child follow where you're looking?

Never Less than once a week A few times a week A few times a day Many times a day

Question 11 of 25 Sensory Sensitivity

How often does your child sniff or lick unusual objects?

Never Less than once a week A few times a week A few times a day Many times a day

Question 12 of 25 Communication and Language

Does your child place your hand on an object when s/he wants you to use it?

Never Less than once a week A few times a week A few times a day Many times a day

Question 13 of 25 Motor and Sensory Traits

Does your child walk on tiptoe?

Never Rarely Sometimes Usually Always

Question 14 of 25 Flexibility and Adaptation

How easy is it for your child to adapt when his/her routine changes?

Impossible Very difficult Quite difficult Quite easy Very easy

Question 15 of 25 Social Attention

If someone in the family is visibly upset, does your child show signs of wanting to comfort them?

Never Rarely Sometimes Usually Always

Question 16 of 25 Repetitive Behavior

Does your child do the same thing over and over again?

Never Less than once a week A few times a week A few times a day Many times a day

Question 17 of 25 Communication and Language

Would you describe your child's first words as:

Very typical Quite typical Slightly unusual Very unusual My child doesn't speak

Question 18 of 25 Communication and Language

Does your child echo things s/he hears?

Never Less than once a week A few times a week A few times a day Many times a day

Question 19 of 25 Communication and Language

Does your child use simple gestures (e.g. wave goodbye)?

Never Less than once a week A few times a week A few times a day Many times a day

Question 20 of 25 Repetitive Behavior

Does your child make unusual finger movements near his/her eyes?

Never Less than once a week A few times a week A few times a day Many times a day

Question 21 of 25 Social Attention

Does your child spontaneously look at your face to check your reaction when faced with something unfamiliar?

Never Rarely Sometimes Usually Always

Question 22 of 25 Repetitive Behavior

How long can your child's interest be maintained by just one or two objects?

A couple of minutes Ten minutes Half an hour Several hours Most of the day

Question 23 of 25 Repetitive Behavior

Does your child twiddle objects repetitively?

Never Less than once a week A few times a week A few times a day Many times a day

Question 24 of 25 Sensory Sensitivity

Does your child seem oversensitive to noise?

Never Rarely Sometimes Usually Always

Question 25 of 25 Repetitive Behavior

Does your child stare at nothing with no apparent purpose?

Never Less than once a week A few times a week A few times a day Many times a day

Psychometric Norms

Participants

56%

Community Mean

Sample SD

56%

Highest Observed Score

56%

Lowest Observed Score

2026–2026

Collection Period

Current normative data for theCurrent normative data for the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) are derived from 2 anonymous participant responses collected through TraitProfiler between 2026 and 2026. All response data are collected anonymously and are intended exclusively for educational, psychometric, and non-commercial research purposes.

Sources

Allison, C., Baron-Cohen, S., Wheelwright, S., Charman, T., Richler, J., Pasco, G., & Brayne, C. The Q-CHAT (Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers): A normally distributed quantitative measure of autistic traits at 18-24 months of age.