What are Pervasive Developmental

Disorders?

Autistic Disorder: What most people think of when they hear the word "autism". Children who present with delays or differences in social interaction, communication and imaginative play prior to 3 years of age.

Asperger's Disorder/ Asperger's Syndrome: Children who don not have delays in the development of language, and tend to score in the average or above-average range on intelligence tests. However, they often have challenges in more subtle communication abilities, as well as social concerns and limited or repetitive interests.

Pervasive Developmental Disorder: A catchall category for children who display many of the symptoms of autism, but don not meet the full or exact criteria for any of the other categories.

Rett's Disorder/Rett's Syndrome: Known to occur only in girls, children with Rett's initially develop normally, then between the ages of one and four begin to lose communication and social skills, Motor ability deteriorates and repetitive hand movements replace purposeful use of the hands.

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder: Children who develop normally for at least two years, and then lose some or most of their communication and social skills prior to the age of ten.