| Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Is your child | | | | preferring the company of a single toy to that of |
| at risk? | | | | their family. They will have a problem making eye |
| This encompasses the five types of | | | | contact. Almost as if looking onto your eyes they |
| neurodevelopmental disorders that include Autistic | | | | see things that make them uncomfortable. You |
| Disorder, also known as Kanner's Autism, | | | | may find that when you hug them they allow the |
| Asperger's Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative | | | | hug but do not respond. There may be concerns |
| Syndrome, Rett Syndrome and Pervasive | | | | that the child has not attached normally to their |
| Developmental Disorder not Otherwise Specified. | | | | family. |
| The disorders are all related though they are all | | | | Language is a problem for autistic children. In |
| slightly different in their disabling effects and | | | | some cases, like Childhood Disintegrative |
| potential outcomes. They are more widespread; | | | | Syndrome, the child loses their language skills at |
| more children suffer with them, than the | | | | three to four years of age. While in autism itself |
| commonly known childhood disorders of Down | | | | the child may never learn to speak, or if they do, |
| syndrome or Spinal Bifida. A recent American | | | | they have great difficulties in maintaining a |
| study discovered that there are 3.4 children with | | | | conversation. |
| autism spectrum disorder for every one thousand | | | | Playtime for the autistic child no longer includes |
| children aged three to ten years old. Children who | | | | imaginative play, but instead often repetitive |
| suffer from this group of disorders all have | | | | actions. They may line up their toys in a specific |
| difficulties with social interplay, spoken and | | | | way over and over again. If someone disturbs |
| unspoken communication, imaginative play and | | | | this pattern they can become very upset. They |
| repetitive behaviors. | | | | may also display repetitive behaviors like toe |
| Depending on which autism spectrum disorder is | | | | walking or rocking. Oddly some autistic children |
| being discussed the symptoms may begin as | | | | obsess on different things. It may be numbers, or |
| early as six months, but can begin as late as | | | | learning about something out of the ordinary like |
| three to four years. Whichever of the five | | | | bus schedules or the workings of a blender. |
| disorders the child develops they share many of | | | | No matter what symptoms the child with autistic |
| the same difficulties to one degree or another | | | | spectrum disorder displays early intervention |
| with Asperger's usually being the mildest form. Still | | | | therapy is their best opportunity for a better |
| these children will all have difficulties with social | | | | chance at a life where they can cope with |
| interplay. They will not be cuddly like other children | | | | situations around them, and hopefully be |
| and even if they were as babies, they will begin | | | | mainstreamed into society. |
| to pull away from their parents and siblings, | | | | |