PDD-NOS

Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) is a pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), and is also considered one of the three autism spectrum disorders (ASD). PDD-NOS is often called atypical autism.^[1]

Characteristics

Because PDD-NOS is a spectrum disorder, not every child shows the same signs. The two main characteristics of the disorder are difficulties with social interaction skills and communication.^[2] Signs are often visible in babies but a diagnosis is usually not made until around age 4.^[3] Even though PDD-NOS is considered milder than typical autism, this is not always true. While some characteristics may be milder, others may be more severe.^[3]

Social functioning skills

Once a child with PDD-NOS enters school, he or she will often be very eager to interact with classmates, but may act socially different from peers and be unable to make genuine connections. As they age, the closest connections they make are typically with their parents. Children with PDD-NOS have difficulty reading facial expressions and relating to feelings of others. They may not know how to respond when someone is laughing or crying. Literal thinking is also characteristic of PDD-NOS. They will most likely have difficulty understanding figurative speech and sarcasm.^[1]

Communication skills

Inhibited communication skills are a sign of PDD-NOS that begin immediately after birth. Infants with PDD-NOS do not babble; as they age, they do not speak at the age at which speech develops in typical people. Once verbal communication begins, vocabulary is often limited.^[4] Some characteristics of language-based patterns are repetitive or rigid language, narrow interests, uneven language development, and poor nonverbal communication.^[5] A very common characteristic of PDD-NOS is severe difficulty grasping the difference between pronouns, particularly between you and me when conversing, as in this exchange:

Parent: Do you want to colour this or do you want me to?

Child: Me.

Here, because the parent used the word me to describe himself or herself, the child thinks that "me" is applicable to the parent regardless of who the speaker is. The child does not understand, without intervention, that the assignment of me depends on the speaker, not to whoever spoke it first.^[6]

Diagnosis

PDD-NOS is typically diagnosed by child psychiatrists, psychologists, or pediatric neurologists.^[4] No singular specific test can be administered to determine whether a child is on the spectrum. Diagnosis is made through observations, questionnaires, and tests. A parent will usually initiate the quest into the diagnosis with questions for their child's pediatrician about their child's development after noticing abnormalities. From there, doctors will ask questions to gauge the child’s development in comparison to age-appropriate milestones. One test that measures this is the Modified Checklist of Autism in Toddlers (MCHAT). This is a list of questions whose answers will determine whether or not the child should be referred to a specialist such as a Developmental pediatrician, a neurologist, a psychiatrist, or a psychologist. Another checklist, the DSM-IV is a series of characteristics and criteria to qualify for an autism diagnosis.^[7]

References

External links

• Aspies Central a community for Autism/Aspergers/PDD-NOS and other associates.
• Spectrumville: A Forum for People on the Autism Spectrum
• http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer

v t e Developmental disorders: Pervasive developmental disorders and autism spectrum (F84, 299) Main Causes Comorbid conditions Epidemiology Heritability Sociological and cultural aspects Therapies Diagnoses Autism spectrum (Asperger syndrome/High-functioning autism Autism PDD-NOS) Childhood disintegrative disorder Rett syndrome Related conditions ADHD Anxiety disorder Epilepsy Fragile X syndrome Mental retardation Dyspraxia Controversies Autism rights movement Autistic enterocolitis MMR vaccine Thiomersal (Chelation) Diagnostic scales Gilliam Asperger's Disorder Scale Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised Autism Spectrum Quotient Childhood Autism Rating Scale Lists Autism-related topics Fictional characters People Speculated historical figures M: PSO/PSI mepr dsrd (o, p, m, p, a, d, s), sysi/epon, spvo proc(eval/thrp), drug(N5A/5B/5C/6A/6B/6D)