Pervasive developmental disorder is an umbrella term for a group of disorders in which people have delays in the development of socialization and communication skills. Autism is perhaps the best known type of this disorder. Other types include Asperger syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and Rett syndrome. Symptoms of pervasive developmental disorder vary, but include problems relating to others and difficulty with changes in routine.
Pervasive Developmental Disorder: An Overview
Pervasive developmental disorder (
PDD) refers to a group of disorders characterized by delays in the development of socialization and communication skills. Parents may note symptoms as early as infancy, although the typical age of onset is before 3 years of age.
Types of Pervasive Developmental Disorder
Autism (a developmental brain disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication skills and by a limited range of activities and interests) is the most characteristic and best-studied pervasive developmental disorder.
Other types of pervasive developmental disorder include:
These conditions all have some of the same symptoms, but they differ in terms of when the symptoms start, how fast they appear, how severe they are, and their exact nature.
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