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Home › Articles › Special Needs › Pervasive Development Disorder

Pervasive Development Disorder

Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, Childhood Disintergrative Disorder, Rett Syndrome and PDDNOS

By Lisamarie Sanders

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The key indicators of autism include difficulty communicating (both verbally and non-verbally), abnormal social relatedness, repetitive movements and/or speech, resistance to change and inappropriate play. Some children may also experience sensory sensitivities, aggressive or self-abusive behaviors and abnormal sleep patterns. Additionally, Danette Palomar, MA, LCPC, a child development specialist with Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago, Ill., says, "Children with autism have increased risk for other developmental disabilities such as mental retardation, ADHD and seizures."

"At this point, the majority of children with autism are diagnosed sometime between 18 months and 2 c years," says Dr. London. However, he says, because of poor eye contact or lack of interest in being cuddled, some parents actually say they knew something was wrong with their child from birth.

Asperger's Syndrome
Children with Asperger's have symptoms that are similar to autism. Although their language is usually at or above age level, they often have severe social difficulties and very repetitive behaviors, interests and activities. They also experience delayed motor milestones and excessive clumsiness. Additionally, Dr. Hilsabeck states that Asperger's sufferers may have an increased incidence of mood disorders. "They are a little more aware, and they care," she says. "They just don't know how to interact or change their behavior."

Palomar explains that some individuals with Asperger's appear to be cognitively advanced because they learn to read early in their development. However, she says, they usually don't understand what they read. She says that, because of their good language and cognitive skills, many children with this disorder are not diagnosed until later in childhood.

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
Childhood disintegrative disorder is also dianosed later in childhood, usually after the age of 3. The symptoms for this disorder are almost identical to autism, but they don't begin until after at least two years of normal development.


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