Glossary
Plain-language definitions of autism terms — written by Soira, calm and neurodiversity-affirming.
M-CHAT
The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers — a short screening questionnaire many paediatricians use at 18 and 24 month visits. It is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. A high-concern score means "worth a deeper look," not "your child is autistic."
Joint attention
When you and your child share focus on the same thing — looking together at a bird, pointing at a passing dog, glancing back at you after seeing something funny. It is one of the earliest social skills and a key thing developmental clinicians look at.
Name response
Whether a child reliably turns or looks when called by name. Inconsistent name response by around the first birthday is one of the things clinicians ask about during screening — though hearing, attention, and what the child is doing all matter too.
Social referencing
Checking a caregiver's face for cues about how to feel — for example, looking at you after bumping into something, before deciding whether to cry. It typically appears in the first year and is a building block for empathy and joint attention.
Regression
When a young child loses skills they previously had — words they used to say, gestures they used to make. Regression in the early years is one of the things developmental clinicians take seriously and is worth raising with your paediatrician.
Diagnostic evaluation
A formal, multi-part assessment by qualified clinicians — usually a paediatrician, psychologist, and speech-language pathologist — that confirms (or rules out) an autism diagnosis. A diagnostic evaluation is more in-depth than a screening tool like the M-CHAT.
ADOS
The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule — a structured, play-based assessment used by trained clinicians as one part of an autism evaluation. The clinician offers prompts and watches how the child responds. ADOS is widely used but is one tool among several; results are interpreted alongside parent interviews and developmental history.
Developmental paediatrician
A medical doctor with additional training in child development. Developmental paediatricians often lead autism assessments, coordinate referrals to therapy, and follow children over the years. In some countries the role is called a developmental medical officer or a community paediatrician.
Waitlist period
The time between a referral and the first formal assessment. Waitlists for public-system autism assessments are often long — months or longer. The wait can feel passive, but it is a good window to begin tracking what you notice, exploring early support, and connecting with other families.
Screener vs diagnostic tool
A screener (such as the M-CHAT) is a short questionnaire that flags whether a child might benefit from a deeper look — yes/no, quick to use. A diagnostic tool (such as the ADOS) is a longer assessment used by a trained clinician to make a formal diagnosis. Screening is the start of the conversation, not the end.