| The term "autism" is often used most commonly used | | | | meaning that it does not get worse in time. |
| to describe any one of the 5 different types of | | | | The 5 types of pervasive developmental disorders |
| pervasive developmental disorders. These pervasive | | | | include: |
| developmental disorders are collectively known as | | | | 1. Autism. Autism's symptoms can be recognized |
| "autism spectrum disorders." There are many theories | | | | before a child turns 3-years-old. However, it may be |
| about how these disorders relate to one another. | | | | diagnosed much later than this. If your child is |
| While some researchers believe that they are all | | | | diagnosed with autism he will have difficulty making or |
| separate disorders with similar symptoms, other | | | | maintaining eye contact, have disturbances in his social |
| researchers say that there is a "spectrum" of severity | | | | functioning and be overwhelmingly absorbed with |
| that ranges from extremely mild to incapacitating. In the | | | | himself. |
| most severe cases of autism, the one inflicted will not | | | | 2. Asperger Syndrome. Asperger Syndrome is similar |
| be able to function and live independently. | | | | to autism in that it tends to show up before your child |
| Autism is a chronic brain disorder that manifests in | | | | turns 3 years old. However, your child will be able to |
| developmental difficulties in the areas of social | | | | function at a higher level than an autistic child. Your |
| interaction, verbal skills and communication. If your child | | | | child can still have difficulties with social functioning, |
| is autistic, he is likely to have repetitive and narrow | | | | communication and speech. He will also be easily |
| interests. In addition, he finds it hard to cope with | | | | absorbed with narrowly defined interests. But with |
| changes in schedules and environment. He can react | | | | some therapy and help, most asperger children are |
| violently when any changes occur or if there is a | | | | able to live independently when they get older. |
| disruption to his normal schedule. | | | | 3. Rex syndrome. Some doctors would argue that |
| Unfortunately, it is not known what causes autism but | | | | Rex syndrome is not a type of autism. However, there |
| some scientists and researchers believe that it is a | | | | are still doctors who do think that this is a form of |
| genetic abnormality. Yet others say that it is caused | | | | autism. This syndrome almost exclusively afflicts girls. |
| by an injury to the brain or exposure to an | | | | Usually your child will develop normally for 6 to 18 |
| environmental toxin. This can be supported by the fact | | | | months and then show a remarkable loss of skills in |
| that in some population areas, autism is at higher rates | | | | such areas as speech and the ability to control her |
| of incidence than it is elsewhere. | | | | hands and her feet. This syndrome can be tested for |
| You may start observing some odd developmental | | | | with an 80% accuracy rate. |
| problems of your child between the ages of 12 and 36 | | | | 4. Childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD). CDD takes |
| months old. It may be that your child is not hitting some | | | | place a little later. It happens after your child turns 2 to |
| milestones with underdeveloped or delay in speech | | | | 4 years before showing a marked degeneration in his |
| and communication skills. You may also begin to notice | | | | social, physical, mental and verbal skills. This long period |
| that his social interactions are poor. However, if your | | | | of normal development below the age of 2 is what |
| child only has mild autism, you may not be able to | | | | makes the difference between autism and CDD. |
| detect that anything is wrong until he enters school. In | | | | 5. Pervasive developmental disorder. Your child is |
| some cases, your child may go undiagnosed until he | | | | diagnosed with a pervasive developmental disorder if |
| reaches middle school, which is when social and | | | | he is found to have impairments in social interaction, |
| communication skills become more important. | | | | stereotyped behavior and communication. However, |
| If you have an autistic child, you may fear that his | | | | this disorder would only apply if he is not within any of |
| disorder may worsen over the years. However, | | | | the above other 4 mentioned categories. |
| research shows that autism is non-progressive, | | | | |