| Pervasive developmental disorder is a number of | | | | Both of these are very rare but they do occur. |
| neurodevelopmental disorders classified under one | | | | Rett Syndrome has another oddity; almost all |
| umbrella. They are called either pervasive | | | | those that suffer from this disorder are girls. The |
| developmental disorder or, as they are more | | | | other autism disorders are more likely to affect |
| commonly known, autism spectrum disorders. | | | | boys, though girls do have autism too. The |
| There are five disorders included in this group. | | | | regression with Rett Syndrome begins as early as |
| The most common one is known as autistic | | | | six months of age and not later than a year and |
| disorder, or Kanner's autism, and is considered the | | | | a half. The child stops any of the developmental |
| most severe. Asperger's syndrome is the milder | | | | progress she has made, stops being that cuddly |
| form. They both share the same symptoms, | | | | baby and pulls away, then begins to show the |
| verbal and non-verbal communication difficulties, | | | | signs of autism. She also loses control of her feet |
| lacking the ability for imaginative play with | | | | and constantly wrings her hands. |
| repetitive play instead and poor social interaction | | | | The other regressive type of autism is called |
| skills. | | | | Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. This is worse to |
| A third is Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not | | | | watch as the child meets all their milestones |
| Otherwise specified. This one is for all the people | | | | including speaking until they hit the age of three or |
| who have many of the symptoms of these | | | | at the latest four years of age. Then in the space |
| neurodevelopmental disorders but not enough | | | | of a few months it's all lost. They lose their sunny |
| symptoms to be definitely placed in one category | | | | disposition, the ability to talk, and they can no |
| or another. So, as they are not specifically | | | | longer control their bowels or bladder despite |
| sufferers of either Asperger's syndrome or | | | | having already been potty trained. This regression |
| Kanner's autism or either of the regressive | | | | can be very confusing for the child and earth |
| autisms, they get lumped into this category. | | | | shattering for the parents who watch their smiley |
| The regressive autisms are more frightening | | | | child lose all interest in normal physical contact. |
| because the child starts out making normal | | | | No matter which pervasive development disorder |
| progress, which then not only stops but also | | | | your child has early intervention is a must to give |
| disappears. All the progress made by the child is | | | | them the best chance in life. This should include |
| gone in a short period of time leaving the child to | | | | occupation, speech and physical therapies. |
| start again and the parent's completely bewildered. | | | | |