Pervasive Developmental Disorders

Pervasive Developmental Disorders

 

Definition of PDD'S: " A term that describes individuals who suffer from chronic disabilities, attributable to mental or physical impairments, or a combination of these, that are manifested before age twenty-two and that result in functional limitations in major life activities, requiring special services that are lifelong or of extended duration". (Winzer)

 

Pervasive implies that it is probable the conditions will be extremely long lasting, if not, lifelong.

Developmental implies that the conditions represent a significant delay in the developmental process and many, if not all developmental domains will be affected.

Pervasive Developmental Disorders are divided into three classifications; Childhood Pyschoses, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Severe Disabilities.

 

The most extreme forms of Pervasive Developmental Disorders are that of severe types of Pyschoses and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

 

There are various characteristics for different forms of PDD'S, some of these include; bizarre behaviour, withdrawal, mood changes, impairments in verbal and non-verbal communicaton, and difficulty with motor skills.