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