Maybe you are seeing concerning signs of autism in a child, and you’ve been told that getting them screened for autism is the next step. Maybe your pediatrician mentioned an upcoming autism screening, and you’re wondering what it involves and why it’s needed. Either way, you’re curious what an autism screening is, what to expect when it happens, and what the results might mean for the child in your care.

We get it—navigating autism screenings and the possibility of an autism diagnosis can be stressful and confusing. This guide will break down the process and cover the details you need to know. 

What is Autism Screening?

Autism screenings are short assessments used to determine whether a child may be showing signs of autism. If an autism screening indicates possible signs of autism, a child may be recommended for further testing, which means a full diagnostic evaluation is needed.

Here’s the important thing to remember: An autism screening is not the same as an autism diagnosis. Autism screenings usually involve a 5–15-minute questionnaire and are often conducted by pediatricians during well visits. They tell healthcare professionals whether there are any signs of autism in a child. 

An autism screening answers the question: Should we look into this further?

But a screening doesn’t formally diagnose autism. A screening is simply a first step, as a full autism diagnostic evaluation must be performed by an autism specialist and can last 2–4 hours. The diagnostician may be a developmental pediatrician, pediatric neurologist, child psychologist, or pediatric psychiatrist. While pediatricians (PCPs) can technically diagnose autism, they don’t usually specialize in autism diagnosis, so they will most likely refer you to someone who does. 

American Academy of Pediatrics Autism Screening Recommendations

You might be wondering why a child is screened for autism even when they don’t have concerning symptoms. It’s because the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends screening all children for autism at 18 and 24 months. These screenings typically occur during pediatric well visits, along with other standardized health evaluations—such as growth checks, physical exams, and developmental monitoring.

The AAP’s recommendations stem from its belief that early autism intervention is key and that the earlier a child receives services for autism—including ABA therapy, speech therapy (especially if you’re trying to determine whether a child has a speech delay versus autism), and occupational therapy—the better their long-term outcomes. In other words, the AAP strongly supports early intervention for autism. 

Common Autism Screening Tools

The AAP doesn’t endorse any specific tests for autism screening. Your pediatrician or other healthcare provider will likely select a screening tool based on their preferences and your family’s needs. Below, we’ll discuss what to know about autism screening tools. 

Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT-R/F)

The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT-R/F) is by far the most widely used autism screening test. It’s completed in the pediatrician’s office by a parent or caregiver, typically when a child is between 16 and 30 months old.

It consists of 20 “yes” or “no” questions about a child’s development. Examples of questions on the M-CHAT-R/F include “Is your child interested in other children?” and “Does your child respond when you call his or her name?” The test is scored in terms of risk (low risk or medium/high risk). 

Ages and Stages Questionnaires SE-2 (ASQ-SE2)

The Ages and Stages Questionnaire SE-2 (ASQ-SE2) is also completed by parents or caregivers. It includes questions about a child’s social-emotional development, and takes about 10-15 minutes to complete. 

Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales (CSBS)

The Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales (CSBS) combines parent interviews with direct observation of children at play. CSBS takes into account communication skills and signs of development, such as facial expressions, gestures, and behaviors during play. 

Parents’ Observations of Social Interaction (POSI)

Parents’ Observations of Social Interaction (POSI) consists of seven questions and is completed by caregivers or parents. It includes questions about a child’s communication and socialization skills. It takes less than five minutes to complete. 

What Happens During an Autism Screening

Wondering what to expect during an autism screening? First, remember that an autism screening is different from an autism evaluation. Autism screenings are quick, usually under 20 minutes, and often happen at a pediatrician appointment. 

Autism diagnostic evaluations are several hours long and may span several sessions. They aren’t done by pediatricians (PCPs), but rather by autism specialists such as neurologists, psychologists, and developmental experts.

Autism screenings typically happen at a child’s pediatrician appointments, at 18 months, 24 months, or anytime concerns arise about a child’s development. What autism screenings look like may depend, in part, on the type of screening a pediatrician uses.

Here’s what to expect at an autism screening:

• Your pediatrician will hand you a questionnaire to fill out that asks simple questions about a child’s ability to communicate, make developmentally appropriate gestures, regulate emotions, and communicate with others.
• Your pediatrician observes a child for signs of normal development, such as how they respond when spoken to, whether they respond to their name, and how they interact with their caregivers. 

Understanding Autism Screening Results

Depending on the tool your pediatrician uses, results from autism screenings are typically categorized as:

• Low Risk
• Medium/High Risk

A medium or high-risk result indicates possible signs of autism, meaning the child may show signs of autism and should receive a full autism diagnostic evaluation. Still, it’s crucial to keep in mind that just because a child has a screening that indicates signs of autism, it doesn’t mean they have autism. The only way to know for sure is through a full autism diagnostic evaluation.

All this means is that further testing is needed. If a child in your care receives a screening indicating signs of autism, try not to panic. The child has not been diagnosed with autism. Many children who screen this way don’t end up having autism.

So, what should you do instead of panicking? Take a deep breath, and ask your pediatrician any follow-up questions you have. Then, make sure to act quickly and schedule a comprehensive autism evaluation.

As much as you don’t want to overreact, you also don’t want to take a “wait and see” approach. The more information you have available, the better. Should the child be diagnosed with autism, you’ll be ready to ensure the child in your care gets the therapy and support they need to thrive. 

When to Request an Autism Screening

Screenings for autism will happen automatically at the pediatrician’s office at 18 and 24 months. But you can request screenings at any time—even before 18 months. You can also request screenings even when a child is well past the toddler years.

Request an autism screening:

• Communication

If you have any concerns about the way a child communicates with you, including making eye contact or engaging with you when you speak to them.

• Milestones

If a child doesn’t reach important milestones, such as waving, pointing, or responding to their name, it may be a sign of a problem.

• Other children and play.

If a child doesn’t seem interested in other children or doesn’t join other children in play.

• Other areas of concern

If an older child is prone to severe meltdowns, has obsessive hobbies or interests, avoids eye contact, has sensory sensitivities, and/or has a strong need for routines.

Above all else, trust your instincts here. Caregivers and parents know children best. Also, screening is a low-risk way to get more information. It will give you more information about your child and a clearer sense of the next steps. 

What Comes After Autism Screening

If an autism screening indicates possible signs of autism, the next step is to schedule a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation. A child’s pediatrician may be able to give you a referral to a specialist in your area who can do this. ACES also partners with diagnosticians and can connect you with a diagnostician.

Often, autism diagnosticians have wait lists—sometimes for months—so it’s important to start the process as soon as possible. While you wait for an appointment with an autism diagnostician, you can start state early intervention services, if a child is under the age of three.

How ACES Can Help

After a child is diagnosed with autism, it’s natural to have many questions and concerns. ACES is a leading provider of ABA therapy, helping families move from diagnosis to a clear, personalized treatment plan

ACES can help you:

• Navigate the diagnosis process, including connecting you with diagnosticians.
• Use the results of a diagnostic evaluation to create an individualized treatment plan that includes therapy goals and recommended therapy hours.
• Understand and get set up with health insurance coverage for ABA therapy.

If the results of a screening indicate possible signs of autism or if a child has been diagnosed with autism, contact the ACES Client Onboarding team for support and next steps. 

Get started with ACES today!

Where to Go From Here

Now that you understand how autism screening works—and what comes next—you can move through the process with more clarity and confidence. But that doesn’t mean you won’t need some support along the way.

Let ACES provide the support your family needs—from screening, to diagnosis, to evidence-based, effective ABA therapy.

Contact ACES to start your journey today!

Sources

Who is Able to Diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorder?. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. 2020.

Hyman, S. L., Levy, S. E., Myers, S. M., & COUNCIL ON CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, SECTION ON DEVELOPMENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL PEDIATRICS (2020). 

Identification, Evaluation, and Management of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Pediatrics, 145(1), e20193447.

How Pediatricians Screen for Autism. American Academy of Pediatrics. 2025.

The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-Up. Mchatscreen.com. 2009.

Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised, with Follow-Up. Drexel University. 2009.

ASQ: SE-2. Agesandstages.com. 2026.

Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales. Texas Education Agency.

Parents' Observations of Social Interactions. Texas Education Agency.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Screening. MedlinePlus. 2024.