| Children with Childhood disintegrative disorder | | | | disorder will deteriorate in intellectual, social, and |
| (CDD) appear to develop normally for the first | | | | language functioning from previously normal |
| two years of life, but then lose skills in areas such | | | | behavior. |
| as language, play, and bowel control and manifest | | | | Symptoms: |
| impaired social interaction and communication | | | | · Loss of social skills |
| associated with restrictive, repetitive, stereotyped | | | | · Loss of bowel and bladder control |
| behaviors. | | | | · Loss of expressive or receptive |
| This disease and autism are among several | | | | language |
| developmental disorders known as pervasive | | | | · Loss of motor skills |
| developmental disorders or autism spectrum | | | | · Lack of play |
| disorders. Childhood disintegrative disorder is also | | | | · Failure to develop peer relationships |
| known as Heller's syndrome after the Viennese | | | | · Impairment in nonverbal behaviors |
| educator, Theodor Heller, who first described the | | | | · Delay or lack of spoken language |
| condition. Childhood disintegrative disorder is | | | | · Inability to start or sustain a |
| perhaps 10 times less common than more strictly | | | | conversation |
| defined autism. | | | | Doctors sometimes confuse this rare disorder |
| It is a rare serious disorder in which a child older | | | | with late-onset autism because both conditions |
| than age 3 stops developing normally and | | | | involve normal development followed by significant |
| regresses to a much lower level of functioning, | | | | loss of language, social, play and motor skills. |
| typically following a serious illness, such as an | | | | Behavioral changes are followed by loss of |
| infection of the brain and nervous system. | | | | communication, social, and motor skills. Behavioral |
| Childhood disintegrative disorder cannot be | | | | impairments include the repetitive, stereotyped |
| specifically treated or cured, and most children, | | | | motions and rigid adherence to routines that are |
| particularly those who are severely retarded, | | | | characteristic of autism. Behavior modification |
| need lifelong care. | | | | procedures may be quite useful. Behavior therapy |
| Social and emotional development regress, | | | | programs may be designed to help your child |
| resulting in impaired ability to relate with others. | | | | learn or relearn language, social and self-care skills. |
| Social interactions become compromised (e.g., | | | | Treatment is the same for autistic disorder |
| aggressiveness, tantrums, withdrawal from | | | | (autism) because of the similarity in the two |
| peers), as does motor function, resulting in poor | | | | disorders. Treatment can be very difficult and |
| coordination and possible awkwardness of gait. | | | | prolonged. Treatment of CDD involves both |
| Typically language, interest in the social | | | | behavior therapy and medications. |
| environment, and often toileting and self-care | | | | Specific treatment for CDD will be determined by |
| abilities are lost, and there may be a general loss | | | | your child's physician based on your child's age, |
| of interest in the environment. Children with CDD | | | | overall health and medical history. Treatment plans |
| became uninterested in social interaction, and | | | | are individualized based on each child's symptoms |
| various unusual self-stimulatory behaviors became | | | | and the level of severity. |
| evident. Over several months, a child with this | | | | |