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 assessment, not specific for autism, and is more suitable for older children. Choice B reason: The Conners Teacher Rating Scale is designed to assess ADHD symptoms in school-aged children, not toddlers. Choice C reason: This is the correct answer. The M-CHAT is a validated screening tool for autism in toddlers aged 16–30 months and is widely used for early detection of autism spectrum disorder. Choice D reason: The Vanderbilt Teacher Rating Scale is designed for ADHD evaluation in school-aged children and is not appropriate for autism screening in toddlers.