Pervasive developmental disorder (PDD)
 

Children with PDD will typically experience difficulties in a range of areas:

They may find it difficult to interact with others, and are likely to have communication difficulties, both verbal and non-verbal.

It may be difficult for a child with PDD to understand and use language; they may avoid eye-contact and have no grasp of facial expressions or body language. Changes to routine and structures may be difficult to cope with: birthdays, holidays even a trip to the shops, may have to be planned for and rehearsed. Play can be problematic, preferring to play alone, repetitively or not at all - frequently copying or pursuing something rigidly. 

Defining Pervasive development disorders

Pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) and Pervasive developmental disorder - not otherwise specified PDD (NOS) are the umbrella terms for all the autistic spectrum and related disorders such as autism, Asperger's syndrome and Rett's Syndrome. Pervasive (prevalent in all a person does) development disorders are neurological conditions characterised by severe and pervasive impairment or delay in several areas of development.

Often seen as synonymous with ASD, people with PDD will have difficulties with some or all of:

• Language - speaking and understanding
• Communication
• Independence skills
• Personal development
• Attention - deficit or obsessional attention paid to a small number of limited, often repetitive tasks
• Developing wider interests
• Problem solving
• Motor skills
• School work / intellectual development
• Social skills
• Heightened sensory awareness - they may for example: find foods difficult to tolerate, need to touch things, be exceptionally sensitive to noise or be overstimulated by a busy primary school classroom.

See also

ASD - Asperger's syndrome and autism

The Autistic Spectrum Semantic Pragmatic Disorder