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Examination of the Korean Modified Checklist of Autism in Toddlers: Item Response Theory

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Abstract

The study examined the clinical utility and psychometric properties of the Korean Modified Checklist of Autism in Toddlers (K-M-CHAT)-2. A sample of 2300 parents of 16- to 36-month-old children was recruited across South Korea. A phone interview was utilized to follow up with participants who initially screened positive for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Item response theory was applied to assess the psychometric properties of the K-M-CHAT-2. Parents’ responses were substantially changed after the follow-up, and the final screen-positive rate was 2.3 %. Results indicated that the psychometric properties of items 1, 3, 11, 18 and 22 were not as strong as the other items. The K-M-CHAT-2 is a useful ASD screening test when implemented with a follow-up.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a Fulbright Scholar Program 2012–2013 U.S. Scholar Award (Korean American Educational Commission) and California State University, Fullerton sabbatical award 2012. We are extremely grateful to the parents who participated in the study. We thank the Jungrang-gu public health center, as well as the many daycare centers, preschools, and many other individuals who assisted in recruiting the participants. An extended gratitude goes out to Korean colleagues (Moonja Shin, Sunah Chang, YoonKyung Lee, Sunghee Choi, DaeYoung Won, Mina Whang, JaeOk Kim) and Eunyoung Park, SuEun Chang, Joanne Min. Special thanks to Prof. Jiyoung Shin at the Korea University who provided with an office and scholarly inspiration during the first author’s sabbatical.

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Correspondence to HyeKyeung Seung.

Appendix: K-M-CHAT Version 2

Appendix: K-M-CHAT Version 2

아래 항목에 답해 주시기 바랍니다. 반드시 전 문항에 응답해주십시오. 만약 아래 질문 중 그 행동의 횟수가 빈번하지 않으면 (예: 한 두 번 본 경우) 그 문항은 ‘아니오’ 라고 답해 주십시오

1. 당신이 아이를 안고 그네처럼 흔들어 주거나 무릎에 앉혀 흔들어 주는 것을 아이가 좋아하나요?

아니오

2. 아이가 다른 아이들에게 관심을 가지나요?

아니오

3. 아이가 물건이나 가구에 올라가기나 계단 오르기를 좋아합니까?

아니오

4. 아이가 까꿍 놀이나 숨바꼭질을 좋아합니까?

아니오

5. 아이가 흉내 놀이를 하나요? (예: 인형 돌보기, 전화 걸기 놀기 등)

아니오

6. 아이가 뭔가를 요구할 때 검지 손가락으로 가리킵니까?

아니오

7. 아이가 흥미로운 것을 가리키기 위해 검지 손가락을 사용합니까?

아니오

8. 아이가 자동차나 블록과 같은 작은 장난감을 입으로 빨거나 반복적으로 떨어뜨리지 않고 용도에 맞게 갖고 노나요?

아니오

9. 아이가 당신에게 보여주기 위해 장난감이나 기타 물건을 가지고 오나요?

아니오

10. 아이가 1초에서 2초 이상 당신의 눈을 응시하나요?

아니오

11. 아이가 소리에 민감하다고 느끼시나요? (예: 시끄러워 귀를 막는 행동)

아니오

12. 당신의 얼굴을 보면 미소를 짓거나 당신이 웃으면 따라 웃나요?

아니오

13. 아이가 당신을 따라 하나요? (예: 찡그리면 따라서 찡그림)

아니오

14. 아이가 이름을 부르면 아이가 반응을 하나요?

아니오

15. 당신이 멀리 있는 물건을 손으로 가리키면 아이가 그 쪽을 보나요?

아니오

16. 아이가 걸어 다니나요?

아니오

17. 아이가 당신이 보고 있는 것을 따라 보나요?

아니오

18. 아이가 자신의 얼굴 주위에서 손가락으로 특이한 행동을 하나요?

아니오

19. 아이가 자신의 행동으로 당신의 관심을 끌려고 하나요?

아니오

20. 아이의 청각에 문제가 있다고 생각한 적이 있나요?

아니오

21. 아이가 다른 사람의 말을 이해하나요?

아니오

22. 아이가 허공을 응시하거나 목적 없이 돌아다니나요?

아니오

23. 아이가 낯선 것을 봤을 때 당신의 반응을 보기 위해 당신의 얼굴을 보나요?

아니오

  1. © Copyright by Diana Robins, Deborah Fein, and Marianne Barton. Translated into Korean by Hyun Uk Kim, Fairfield University

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Seung, H., Ji, J., Kim, SJ. et al. Examination of the Korean Modified Checklist of Autism in Toddlers: Item Response Theory. J Autism Dev Disord 45, 2744–2757 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2439-0

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