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Pervasive Developmental
Disorders (PDD) A dditional
information about child and adolescent PDDs is available from:
National Institute of
Mental Health
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
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Asperger's Syndrome
Interested in
participating in a study on Autism?
For information on
more treatments for
PDD that
are available through CARE-NET, see
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What are Pervasive Developmental Disorders?
Pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), also known as Autistic Spectrum
Disorders, are neurobiological disorders that interfere with the pattern
of normal child development and are diagnosed in children and
adolescents who suffer from some combination of pervasive problems with
social interactions (i.e., problems relating to others), verbal and/or
nonverbal communication, and repetitive or stereotypical patterns of
behaviors or interests. Children and adolescents diagnosed with PDD may
also have difficulties with learning (e.g. poor language development,
loss of previously acquired skills). Parents are usually first to raise
concerns about the behaviors that define PDD, which are typically first
noticed by the age of 3 years , yet only half of affected children are
correctly diagnosed before kindergarten. They may report that the child
seemed “different”, odd, or socially aloof from early in life. Some
parents report that the child never made good eye contact, seemed to be
lacking in affection, and/or did not desire for close contact or
cuddling with the parents. Many children with PDD have unusual responses
to particular sensations, sometimes appearing to be easily overwhelmed
by certain noises or other sensory experiences. Some are quite rigid,
with a strong “desire for sameness”, becoming excessively distressed
with any changes in routine or schedule.
Some
behaviors commonly associated with PDD are as follows:
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Resistant to change, difficulty making transitions
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Preference to play alone
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Difficulty making or keeping eye contact
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Unable to play in a reciprocal manner with other children
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Difficulty expressing needs
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Lack of verbal communication, prefers gestures
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Mood changes without a trigger
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Poor motor skills (fine motor and gross motor)
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Resistant to being touched or hugged
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Engages in self-stimulating behavior (verbal or physical)
These
behaviors can range in severity from mild to severe, and varies among
those with the disorder.
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Facts about PDD
PDD
is diagnosed in 2 to 6 children of every 1,000 children born.
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PDD seems to be more prevalent in boys than girls.
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PDD is not particular to any race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic
status.
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There are five main varieties of PDD, otherwise known as Autistic
Spectrum Disorders:
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Autistic Disorder
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Asperger’s
Disorder
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Rett’s Disorder
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Childhood
Disintegrative Disorder
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Pervasive
Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified
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Autistic Disorder
To
meet criteria for this disorder, children must meet the following
requirements per the Diagnostic and Statistics Manual IV –TR:
Delays or abnormal functioning by age 3 in one of the following areas:
- Social interaction
- Language
communication
- Imaginary play or
symbolis
A
total of six of the following:
Impairment in social interaction (need at least 2)
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Impairment in use
of non verbal behaviors (e.g. eye contact, facial expression)
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Inability to
develop age appropriate peer relationships
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Inability to be
spontaneous about play, interests, and fun activities (e.g.
often needs prompting to check out new things)
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Inability to
demonstrate social or emotional reciprocity (e.g. not responsive
to affection, appears to not care when others are emotionally
upset)
Impairment in communication (need at least 1)
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Lack of or delay
in spoken language
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Inability to
initiate or sustain communication in those with adequate speech
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Repetitive or
stereotypical language (e.g. repeats others, lack of emotion in
expressive language, language may appear mechanical)
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Inability to
engage in make-believe play or socially imitate others in play
(when age appropriate)
Restrictive and stereotyped behavior patterns (need at least 1)
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Preoccupation with
one or more stereotyped or restricted interest patterns that are
abnormal in intensity or focus (e.g. memorize sports statistics
in excess, always talking about Star Wars)
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Inability to be
flexible with routines (e.g. resists wearing new types of
clothes)
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Stereotyped or
repetitive motor movements (e.g. hand flapping, rocking, toe
walking)
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Preoccupation with
parts of objects (e.g. excessive talk of shiny wheels on car,
destroys toys to focus on part of interest)
Behaviors not meet criteria for Rett’s Disorder or Childhood
Disintegrative Disorder
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Asperger’s Disorder
To
meet criteria for this disorder, children must meet the following
requirements per the Diagnostic and Statistics Manual IV –TR:
Impairment in social interaction (need at least 2)
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Impairment in use
of non verbal behaviors (e.g. eye contact, facial expression)
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Inability to
develop age appropriate peer relationships
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Inability to be
spontaneous about play, interests, and fun activities (e.g.
often needs prompting to check out new things)
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Inability to
demonstrate social or emotional reciprocity
Restrictive and stereotyped behavior patterns (need at least 1)
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Preoccupation with
one or more stereotyped or restricted interest patterns that are
abnormal in intensity or focus (e.g. memorize sports statistics
in excess, always talking about Star Wars)
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Inability to be
flexible with routines (e.g. resists wearing new types of
clothes)
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Stereotyped or
repetitive motor movements (e.g. hand flapping, rocking, toe
walking)
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Preoccupation with
parts of objects (e.g. excessive talk of shiny wheels on car,
destroys toys to focus on part of interest)
Behaviors cause significant impairment in social and other important
areas and functioning.
There is no language delay.
No significant cognitive delays or in self-help skills, aside from
social skills.
Not meet criteria for another PDD disorder or schizophrenia.
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Rett’s Disorder
To
meet criteria for this disorder, children must meet the following
requirements per the Diagnostic and Statistics Manual IV –TR:
Child must have all of the following
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Normal prenatal
and perinatal development
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Normal psychomotor
development for first 5 months after birth
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Normal head
circumference at birth
Develop all of the following symptoms (after normal development for
at least 5 months)
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Lack of head
growth between ages 48 months and 5 years
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Loss of hand
skills and development of stereotypical hand movements (e.g.
hand washing) between 30
months and age 5
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Early onset in
loss of ability to socially interact (may develop later)
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Poor motor
coordination in gait or trunk
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Impairment
(severe) in expressive and receptive language development
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Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
To
meet criteria for this disorder, children must meet the following
requirements per the Diagnostic and Statistics Manual IV –TR:
Normal development for at least first 2 years after birth (e.g.
ability to communicate, social skills)
Loss of previously acquired skills before age 10 in the following
areas (need at least 2)
Functional abnormalities (need at least 2 areas)
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Impairment in
social skills
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Impairment in
communication
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Restricted,
repeated, or stereotyped behaviors
Not meet criteria for another PDD disorder or schizophrenia
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Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise
Specified (NOS)
This
category is used when there are noted behaviors and impairment (as
described above) in social interactions and communication, but the
criteria is not met for a specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder.
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