| Childhood Disintegrative Disorder Overview | | | | 3. repetitive and stereotyped patterns of |
| | | | behavior, interests and activities |
| Childhood disintegrative disorder is a severe | | | | |
| loss of social, communication and other | | | | Childhood disintegrative disorder may occur |
| skills classified in a group of disorders | | | | abruptly over the course of days to weeks or |
| called Pervasive Developmental Disorders. | | | | gradually over an extended period of time. |
| Onset is usually after the age of four. The | | | | There is seldom found an underlying medical |
| signs and symptoms are similar to autism, | | | | or neurological cause. |
| although autism usually occurs at an earlier | | | | |
| age and is more common. | | | | Further research is difficult due to the |
| | | | limited number of children diagnosed with |
| Pervasive developmental disorders include: | | | | childhood disintegrative disorder, although |
| | | | more research is needed at this time. Experts |
| Childhood disintegrative disorder | | | | suspect there may be a genetic basis or that |
| | | | an autoimmune response plays a role in the |
| Autism | | | | development of childhood disintegrative |
| | | | disorder. |
| Aspergers syndrome | | | | |
| | | | Treatment |
| Rett syndrome | | | | |
| | | | Treatment for childhood disintegrative |
| Pervasive developmental disorder not | | | | disorder is about the same as for autism; |
| otherwise specified | | | | there is no cure for this disorder. Treatment |
| | | | may include: |
| A Viennese educator, Theodor Heller, first | | | | |
| described the condition. Childhood | | | | Medications: There are no medications |
| disintegrative disorder is also known as | | | | specifically to treat childhood |
| Hellers syndrome after Theodor Heller. | | | | disintegrative disorder. Severe behavior |
| | | | problems like aggression and repetitive |
| Signs and symptoms of childhood | | | | movements can sometimes be controlled by |
| disintegrative disorder include: | | | | antipsychotic medications. |
| | | | |
| Normal development for at least the first two | | | | Behavior therapy may be used by |
| years of life | | | | psychologists, speech therapists, physical |
| | | | therapists and occupational therapists, |
| Significant loss of previously acquired or | | | | parents, teachers and caregivers. |
| learned skills before age 10 in at least two | | | | |
| of the following areas: | | | | Prognosis for children with childhood |
| | | | disintegrative disorder is usually poor and |
| 1. ability to say words or sentences | | | | worse than for children with autism. Children |
| | | | with this disorder often need residential |
| 2. ability to understand verbal and nonverbal | | | | care in a group home or long term care |
| communication | | | | facility. |
| | | | |
| 3. social skills and self-care skills | | | | Source: Mayo Clinic |
| | | | |
| 4. bowel and bladder control | | | | Disclaimer: This article is for educational |
| | | | purposes only. It is not intended to be a |
| 5. play skills | | | | substitute for informed medical advice or |
| | | | care. You should not use the information in |
| 6. motor skills (ability to voluntarily move | | | | this article to diagnose or treat any health |
| the body in a purposeful way) | | | | problems or illnesses without consulting your |
| | | | pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult |
| The lack of impairment occurs in at least two | | | | a doctor with any questions or concerns you |
| of the following areas: | | | | might have regarding your or your childs |
| | | | condition. |
| 1. social interaction | | | | |
| | | | This article is FREE to publish with the |
| 2. communication | | | | resource box. |
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