| The pervasive development disorders are a group of | | | | studies that suggested that these illnesses are caused |
| conditions, containing: autism, Asperger's syndrome, | | | | by a problem with the nervous system, and there are |
| Rett's syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder and | | | | studies in progress that are examining the structure |
| pervasive development disorder not otherwise | | | | and function of the brain in people with autism, to find |
| specified. | | | | out clues that will lead to a better understanding of |
| Children with autism have problems in communicating | | | | these illnesses. |
| and relating to other people, they have problems with | | | | It is known that in 10.000 births, there appear 5-15 |
| the imagination and with the understanding of reality. In | | | | cases of children affected by these pervasive |
| many cases, there can appear some degree of | | | | development disorders. The most affected are the |
| mental retardation. | | | | boys, excepting the situation of Rett's syndrome, which |
| The children with Asperger's syndrome have average | | | | affects mostly girls. |
| or above average intelligence, they develop normally in | | | | In order to diagnose autism, if the symptoms are |
| the areas of language and cognition, but they have | | | | present, the doctor will perform a complete medical |
| problems with social interaction and communication, a | | | | history and physical examination. Then, he will do some |
| narrow range of interests and often have difficulty | | | | tests, like X-rays and blood tests, to see if there are |
| concentrating and poor coordination. | | | | symptoms that can show a physical disorder. If there |
| The children with Rett's syndrome have the symptoms | | | | isn't found a physical disorder, the child is sent to a |
| mentioned before, but the also suffer the loss of many | | | | specialist in childhood development disorders which is |
| motor or movement skills. This condition affects usually | | | | trained to diagnose and treat the pervasive |
| girls, because it is linked to a defect on the X | | | | development disorders. The doctor analyzes the child's |
| chromosome. | | | | level of development, speech and behavior, and often |
| Childhood disintegrative disorder is a rare condition and | | | | can ask the parents of the child, or other adults that |
| children affected by it begin their development | | | | are familiar with him about the symptoms that they |
| normally, but between the age of 2-10 many of the | | | | found. |
| developed skills will be lost. Those affected by this | | | | Because children affected by these disorders can |
| illness may lose control of other functions, including | | | | have a large range of symptoms, the treatment must |
| bowel and bladder control. | | | | be adjusted to fulfill every child's needs. |
| Pervasive development disorder not otherwise | | | | Treatment can include medications in order to treat |
| specified refers to children that are too social to be | | | | specific symptoms, like anxiety, hyperactivity and |
| considered autistic, but they still have some difficulty | | | | behavior that may result in injury, there are also |
| interacting with others, communicating and playing. | | | | necessary therapies that increase the child's functional |
| Children with pervasive development disorders can | | | | abilities, and strategies for supporting positive behavior. |
| develop a lot of symptoms and the severity of them | | | | The result seen in people with pervasive development |
| depends from case to case. Some general symptoms | | | | disorders varies depending on the type and severity of |
| include difficulty with social interaction, understanding | | | | the condition, on the age when the treatment started |
| the reality, with verbal communication, problems using | | | | and on the availability of supportive resources for the |
| and understanding language, repetitive body | | | | child. |
| movements or patterns of behavior. There can also | | | | There are being made researches in order to find out |
| be mentioned difficulty sleeping, aggressive behavior, | | | | more about these conditions, to discover what is |
| and nervousness. | | | | happening in the brain and to find better ways for |
| The cause of these illnesses is not known yet, but | | | | diagnosing and treating these disorders, or even |
| researchers are working on it. However, there were | | | | prevention and cure. |