Are autism spectrum or pervasive developmental disorders preventable?

Is pervasive developmental disorder genetic?

Yes, pervasive developmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorders, have a genetic component. Research has shown that individuals with a family history of autism or related conditions are at an increased risk of developing these disorders. However, genetics are just one factor, and environmental influences also play a role in the development of pervasive developmental disorders.

What is PDD?

PDD is an acronym for pervasive developmental disability, which is a description of a type of developmental disorder. It means the same as autism spectrum disorder. It encompasses five conditions: autism, Asperger's Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and PDD-Not Otherwise Specified. See the related question below "What are autism spectrum disorders?" for more details.

What is a non spectrum disorder?

A "non-spectrum disorder" means a disorder that is not part of the spectrum being discussed. For example, it could refer to the disorders that are not part of the autism spectrum or disorders that are not part of the schizophrenia spectrum. (I have seen the term used in both these situations, so it depends on the context.) Non-spectrum disorders could refer to attention disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other developmental disorders.

How come there are so many different types of autism?

There is one type of autism. However, there are multiple types of pervasive developmental disorders, of which autism is one. The pervasive developmental disorders, also known as autism spectrum disorders, include five disorders that affect social and communication skills as well as motor and language skills. The five disorders are: Classic Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, Persuasive Developmental Disorder (PDD-NOS), Rett's Syndrome and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder.

How is Rett syndrome classified in the DSM-IV?

In DSM-IV, Rett syndrome was classified as a pervasive developmental disorder, which is characterized by varying degrees of impairment in communication skills, social interactions, and repetitive behaviors. It was subcategorized under the broader diagnostic category of autism spectrum disorders.

What is PDD-NOS?

ANSWER: PDD or Pervasive Developmental Disorder is actually a bit of a misnomer. Many doctors who would not like to commit to giving a diagnosis of Autism will tell the parents that their child has PDD or PDD NOS. ANSWER: PDD-NOS stands for Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified. PDD is another name for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Some doctors use PDD when they mean PDD-NOS. Some doctors use PDD as what it is - a set of disorders. PDD is not a diagnosis; it is a description of a category of developmental disorders. PDD-NOS is a diagnosis. It describes a condition that has the characteristics of a pervasive developmental disorder, but does not fit the criteria for one of the other PDDs. Sometimes, doctors will use the diagnosis of PDD-NOS when it is apparent that the child has a pervasive developmental disorder, but the exact one cannot yet be determined - perhaps because the child is too young to identify certain symptoms, or the disorder is not severe enough to differentiate from the others yet, or comorbid conditions are making it difficult to differentiate among the disorders. Some doctors prefer not to give a diagnosis of autism until they feel absolutely sure that it is autism, so they diagnose the child with PDD-NOS until they are certain.

What has the author Loretta Gallo-Lopez written?

Loretta Gallo-Lopez has written: 'Play-based interventions for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders' -- subject(s): Pervasive Child Development Disorders, Therapy, Methods, Adolescent, Child, Play Therapy

What are spectrum disorders?

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD), also known as pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), are conditions with various levels of impaired communication skills, impaired social skills, and repetitive behaviors or interests. Sensory issues are also very common in the autism spectrum disorders. These disorders are neither diseases nor mental illnesses. Pervasive developmental disorders are a type of developmental disorder, as the name implies. There are five disorders included in autism spectrum disorders: autism (sometimes called Kanner's Syndrome), Asperger's Syndrome (AS), pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), Rett Syndrome, and childhood disintegrative disorder (also known as Heller's Syndrome). Autism or autistic disorder is the most well-known of the PDDs. Characteristics of autism are impaired social skills, impaired communication skills, repetitive behaviors or interests, and abnormal or delayed skills in social interaction, language use, or play. It usually becomes apparent by age three. It is more often diagnosed in males than in females. Rett Syndrome is the least common diagnosis. Most people with Rett Syndrome are female. They seem to have normal prenatal development and continue to develop apparently normally for the first five to 18 months. After that period, head growth decelerates, hand skills decline, social engagement with others disappears, walking appears uncoordinated, language is severely impaired, and psychomotor skills are severely impaired. The child regresses. Children who had been able to talk, stop. Children who previously enjoyed social contact now start pulling away from it. Most of those with Rett Syndrome end up in wheelchairs. Childhood disintegrative disorder is another rare autism spectrum disorder. It is diagnosed using norm-referenced tests, not parental accounts. In can be misdiagnosed as late-onset autism. These children develop apparently normally for the first two years. Then, between the ages of three and four, they have a significant loss of skills in at least two of the following areas over the next few years: communication skills, social skills, motor skills, play skills, and control of bowel and/or bladder functions. They also engage in repetitive behaviors or interests. It can also be accompanied by seizures and extremely low IQ. Asperger's Syndrome also involves impaired social skills and repetitive behaviors or interests, but no clinically significant delay in cognitive development and language development (except socially). This condition was once labeled as infantile schizophrenia. Pervasive developmental disorder - not otherwise specified is used to describe a condition that matches the characteristics of a pervasive developmental disorder (impaired social skills, impaired language skills, and repetitive behaviors or interests), but does not seem to match any of the other four pervasive developmental disorders. No single behavior can be used to identify an autism spectrum disorder. Other conditions can have similar symptoms. Also the impairments can range from mild to severe, so you cannot rule out the condition simply because one impairment seems relatively mild. Some of these behaviors occur in most children. However, the frequency and duration of these behaviors are atypical for the child's age group.

What has the author Patricia A Prelock written?

Patricia A. Prelock has written: 'Treatment of autism spectrum disorders' -- subject(s): Autism spectrum disorders in children, Autism spectrum disorders, Treatment

What are autism spectrum disorders?

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD), also known as pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), are conditions with various levels of impaired communication skills, impaired social skills, and repetitive behaviors or interests. Sensory issues are also very common in the autism spectrum disorders. These disorders are neither diseases nor mental illnesses. Pervasive developmental disorders are a type of developmental disorder, as the name implies. There are five disorders included in autism spectrum disorders: autism (sometimes called Kanner's Syndrome), Asperger's Syndrome (AS), pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), Rett Syndrome, and childhood disintegrative disorder (also known as Heller's Syndrome). Autism or autistic disorder is the most well-known of the PDDs. Characteristics of autism are impaired social skills, impaired communication skills, repetitive behaviors or interests, and abnormal or delayed skills in social interaction, language use, or play. It usually becomes apparent by age three. It is more often diagnosed in males than in females. Rett Syndrome is the least common diagnosis. Most people with Rett Syndrome are female. They seem to have normal prenatal development and continue to develop apparently normally for the first five to 18 months. After that period, head growth decelerates, hand skills decline, social engagement with others disappears, walking appears uncoordinated, language is severely impaired, and psychomotor skills are severely impaired. The child regresses. Children who had been able to talk, stop. Children who previously enjoyed social contact now start pulling away from it. Most of those with Rett Syndrome end up in wheelchairs. Childhood disintegrative disorder is another rare autism spectrum disorder. It is diagnosed using norm-referenced tests, not parental accounts. In can be misdiagnosed as late-onset autism. These children develop apparently normally for the first two years. Then, between the ages of three and four, they have a significant loss of skills in at least two of the following areas over the next few years: communication skills, social skills, motor skills, play skills, and control of bowel and/or bladder functions. They also engage in repetitive behaviors or interests. It can also be accompanied by seizures and extremely low IQ. Asperger's Syndrome also involves impaired social skills and repetitive behaviors or interests, but no clinically significant delay in cognitive development and language development (except socially). This condition was once labeled as infantile schizophrenia. Pervasive developmental disorder - not otherwise specified is used to describe a condition that matches the characteristics of a pervasive developmental disorder (impaired social skills, impaired language skills, and repetitive behaviors or interests), but does not seem to match any of the other four pervasive developmental disorders. No single behavior can be used to identify an autism spectrum disorder. Other conditions can have similar symptoms. Also the impairments can range from mild to severe, so you cannot rule out the condition simply because one impairment seems relatively mild. Some of these behaviors occur in most children. However, the frequency and duration of these behaviors are atypical for the child's age group.

Is Asperger's syndrome understood?

Not fully. However, professionals are making great strides towards understanding it. It is already known to be an autism-spectrum disorder and pervasive developmental disorder, but its exact causes are still unknown, and it still cannot be "cured."

Asperger Syndrome belongs to which spectrum of disorders?

Asperger's Syndrome is considered to be part of the Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Are autism spectrum or pervasive developmental disorders preventable?

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