PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER – Not otherwise Specified

HISTORY

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Pervasive Developmental Disorder(PDD) first used in 1980’s to describe a class of five disorders:

1. Autistic Disorder 2. Rett’s Disorder 3. Childhood Disintegrative Disorder 4. Asperger’s Disorder 5. PDDNOS - Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified

All 5 disorders listed under PDD have in common pervasive and severe impairment in several areas of development:

1. social interaction 2. imaginative activity 3. verbal and nonverbal communication skills 4. limited number of interests and activities that tend to be repetitive.

DEFINITION

• PDD-NOS is a neurological disorder that affects a child’s ability to communicate, understand language, play, and relate to others. Generally evident by age three.

• This category/diagnosis is used when children do not meet the criteria for any of the disorders listed under Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Schizophrenia, Schizotypal Personality Disorder, or Avoidant Personality Disorder.

Characteristics of PDDNOS

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Communication problems (using and understanding language) Difficulty relating to people, objects, events Unusual play with toys and other objects Difficulty with changes in routine or familiar surroundings Repetitive body movements, behavior, or play skills patterns Unusual responses to sensory information. (ex: loud noise, light, certain textures of food or fabrics) Variations in abilities, intelligence, and behaviors Difficulty with abstract concepts Impaired social skills

Diagnostic Label Confusion

• PDDNOS and Autism are on a continuum. • No established guidelines or techniques to measure the severity of a child’s symptoms.

• Diagnostic criteria are a guideline not a checklist.

Prevalence & Cause

• 5 to 15 per 10,000 births.

• 4 times more boys than girls • Current research investigating neurological damage and biochemical imbalance

PDDNOS Assessment

• Medical assessment • Interviews with parents, child, and child’s teacher • Behavior rating scales (usually use Autism checklist) • Direct behavioral observations • Psychological assessment • Educational assessment Pre-academic skills Academic skills Daily living skills Learning style / Problem solving approaches • Communication assessment • Occupational assessment Gross motor Fine motor Visual skills Sensory functioning

Services

• IDEA • FSP • IEP • Occupational Therapy • Physical Therapy • Speech Therapy

Teaching Strategies

Structure Communication Atmosphere

Communication Strategies

•Graphs, charts •Verbal Cues •Visual Schedule •Communication devices: PECS Augmentative devices Social Stories

Atmosphere Strategies

• Lighting - Incandescent instead of florescent • Carpet - to reduce sound • Soft voice when speaking • Soft music • Classroom design MOST SUCCESSFUL STRATEGIES: Structure Social Stories Activity Centers Desk top teaching

Transition to Adulthood

Social: Tend to be loners, inappropriate behavior Academic: Difficulty with self-direction Special education in secondary school Require occupational training Living: Group home Supervised Living Independent

Organizations

Autism Hotline Autism Services Center P.O. Box 507 Huntington, WV 25710-0507 (304) 525-8014 Web: www.autismservicescenter.org

Indiana Resource Center for Autism Indiana Institute on Disability & Community 2853 East 10 th Street, Indiana University Bloomington, IN 47408-2696 812) 855-6508; (812) 855-9396 (TTY) Web: www.iidc.indiana.edu/~irca Autism National Committee P.O. Box 6175 North Plymouth, MA 02362-6175 Web: www.autcom.org

Autism Society of America 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 300 Bethesda, MD 20814 (800) 328-8476; (301) 657-0881 E-mail: [email protected]

Web: www.autism-society.org

National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY) P.O. Box 1492 Washington, D.C. 20013 (800) 695-0285 (202) 884-8200 (V/TTY) E-mail: [email protected]

Web: www.nichcy.org

LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS

Vince Mosely Development Evaluation Center 135 Rutledge Avenue Charleston, S.C. 29425 (800) 424-MUSC (843) 792-1414 Web: www.muschealth.com

The Parent & Teacher Resource Center College of Health Professions Research Office 19 Hagood Avenue #910 Charleston, S.C. 29425 E-mail: [email protected]

S.C. Department of Disabilities and Special Needs 3440 Hardin Street, ext.

Columbia, S.C. 29203 (803) 898-9600

S.C. Services Information System (SCSIS) Web: www.scsis.org/index.html

E-mail: [email protected]

S.C. Department of Health & Human Services (803) 898-2500 Web: www.dhhs.state.sc.us/default.htm

Therapy Resources 811 St. Andrews Boulevard Charleston, S.C. 29407 (843) 763-6301

HELPFUL WEBSITES

• Autism: Family Village: www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/lib_autm.htm

• Autism-PDD Resources Network: www.autism-pdd.net/ • Autism Research Institute: www.autism.com/ari/ • Autism Resources: www.autism-resources.com

• Autism Society of America: www.autism-society.org/ • Center for the Study of Autism: www.autism.org/ • Division TEACCH: www.teacch.com/ • Families for Early Autism Treatment: www.feat.org

Reference

http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/factshe/fs20txt.htm

http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/factshe/fs1txt.htm

Vince Moseley Developmental Education Center Kluth, Paula (2003). “You’re going to love this kid!” teaching students with autism in the inclusive classroom. Maryland: Brooks