The mother of a 16-month-old child expresses concern that her son might have autism. Which of the following is an appropriate autism screening tool for a child of this age?

Choice A reason: The Child Behavior Checklist is a broad behavioral screening tool used for children from ages 1.5 to 18 but does not specifically target early signs of autism in toddlers. Choice B reason: The Conners Teacher Rating Scale is designed to assess behaviors related to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in school-aged children, not to screen for autism in toddlers. Choice C reason: The M-CHAT is specifically designed to screen children between 16 and 30 months for early signs of autism spectrum disorder. It identifies risk factors and developmental concerns related to social communication and repetitive behaviors. Choice D reason: The Vanderbilt Teacher Rating Scale is intended for evaluating ADHD symptoms and behavioral issues in school-aged children and is not appropriate for screening toddlers for autism spectrum disorder.