Pervasive
Developmental Disorders (PDD)
Kerry, age 5
|
|
Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD)
PDDs include five syndromes with similar characteristics. PDD may be diagnosed as early as eighteen months, but as a child grows and develops, a specific diagnosis may change.
Although people with each disorder have individual traits, they all
share special needs in the areas of verbal and nonverbal communications,
social interaction and behavior. Strategies and interventions for
people with any PDD are similar in their focus on structure and
consistency.
Note: Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) are sometimes referred
to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
The five syndromes of PDD are:
- Autism
- Asperger's Syndrome
- Rett's Disorder, affecting girls at around four months old with mental retardation after normal development to this point
- Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, normal development until about two years old, then severe degeneration of motor and communication skills
- PDD-Not Otherwise Specified or PDD-NOS, when the behaviors of a child do not fit any one category
|
Disabilities 
