| Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) is | | | | where children with autism will not. The abilities, |
| complicated to diagnose. It include a wide spectrum of | | | | intelligence, and behaviors of children with a Pervasive |
| social and communication disorders. Once diagnosed, | | | | Development Disorder vary from child to child. |
| ways to determine them as well as ways to help | | | | The cause of PDD-NOS is not known. Many |
| those who are diagnosed at an early age are | | | | researchers believe they are formed from biological |
| available. In most cases, symptoms will present | | | | and neurological problems in the brain. Others believe |
| themselves before a child is 3 years old. | | | | they may also have a genetic basis. Still other studies |
| These disorders are characterized by delayed | | | | suggest that they might stem from a variety of |
| progress of communication or social skills. If a child | | | | causes included but not limited to food allergies, |
| consistently exhibits behaviors that interfere with the | | | | excessive amounts of yeast in the digestive tract, and |
| development of relationships and communication with | | | | contact with toxins from the environment. One thing |
| others like playing with the same toy repeatedly, flicking | | | | that has been concluded is that these disorders are |
| and shaking toys in nontraditional manners, lining up | | | | not caused by lack of attention from a child's mother. |
| toys and not playing with them or not looking at people | | | | Intervention early on is significant to the treatment . No |
| when they communicate with him an evaluation should | | | | known cure is available, but hope for children with this |
| be conducted to determine if a language disorder or | | | | condition exists. The important factor is starting to |
| possible PDD is apparent. The most noticeable | | | | work with the children early on by maximizing |
| characteristic of these disorders is using and | | | | communication through behavior modification. |
| understanding language. Individuals with this disorder | | | | Medication may have some significance in some |
| are typically not curious about the environment around | | | | instances as well. |
| them and often have trouble adapting to changes in | | | | Getting help and early intervention is an important goal |
| routine. These may sound like behaviors that any child | | | | to helping a child improve. The needs of children vary. |
| can demonstrate occasionally without having this | | | | For this reason an individualized education plan may be |
| disorder.. For that reason symptoms will need to be | | | | necessary for the child. This plan, which includes |
| evident over considerable periods of time to be | | | | communication and social skills development, needs to |
| properly diagnosed. | | | | be highly structured. A child with this disorder is |
| Autism is most recognized form of PDD, and children | | | | encouraged by hugs and praise and may benefit from |
| with autism are often normal in appearance but | | | | rewards that encourage social interaction. The most |
| withdrawn into their own world and not capable of | | | | successful plans are coordinated with the teacher and |
| relating normally to others. The difference is that most | | | | home for consistency. |
| children with it will oftentimes communicate with others | | | | |