Autism

PDD-Pervasive Developmental Disorders include Autism, Asperger’s, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Rett’s Disorder, and PDD/NOS.

Possible Indicators of Autism Spectrum Disorders as provided by NIMH:

• Does not babble, point, or make meaningful gestures by 1 year of age
• Does not speak one word by 16 months
• Does not combine two words by 2 years
• Does not respond to name
• Loses language or social skills

Some other indicators:

• Poor eye contact
• Doesn't seem to know how to play with toys
• Excessively lines up toys or other objects
• Is attached to one particular toy or object
• Doesn't smile
• At times seems to be hearing impaired

Autism

Autism is a neurobiological pervasive developmental disorder that affects verbal and nonverbal communication, social interaction, imagination, and problem solving. Other components of autism are difficulty with sensory modulation, sensory discrimination, motor planning, and sequencing. Neuro-imaging has given us great insight into abnormalities in the central nervous system that affects motor, sensory, language, cognitive and attention functions. Many children on the autism spectrum present with enzyme variations that cause abnormal function of vital biochemical pathways. The methylation pathway is a common problematic pathway. Every child on the autistic spectrum has a unique pattern of these challenges. Understanding how biochemical, sensory, and motor problems complicate a child’s daily life is crucial for designing an appropriate intervention program. BrainworX is a unique program that looks at neuro-developmental disorders with a wide-angle lens. Our multimodal therapy approach allows us address the various and unique deficiencies.

Rett Syndrome

Rett Syndrome is a neuro-developmental disorder that is classified as an autism spectrum disorder by the DSM-IV. It was first described by Austrian pediatrician Andreas Rett, in 1966. The clinical features include a deceleration of the rate of head growth (including microcephaly in some) and small hands and feet. Repetitive hand movements such as mouthing or wringing are also noted. Girls with Rett syndrome are prone to gastrointestinal disorders and up to 80% have seizures.[1] They typically have no verbal skills, and about 50% of females are not ambulatory. Scoliosis, growth failure, and constipation are very common and can be problematic. The signs of this disorder are most easily confused with those of Angelman syndrome, cerebral palsy and autism. For more information go to NIMH.

Childhood Degenerative Disorder

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder is a condition in which children develop normally until age 3 or 4, but then demonstrate a severe loss of social, communication and other skills.

Doctors sometimes confuse this disorder with late-onset autism. Both conditions involve normal development followed by significant loss of language, social, play and motor skills. Childhood disintegrative disorder and autism are among several disorders known as pervasive developmental disorders or autism spectrum disorders.

Autism typically occurs at an earlier age than childhood disintegrative disorder. There's also a more dramatic loss of skills with childhood disintegrative disorder and a greater likelihood of mental retardation. In addition, childhood disintegrative disorder is far less common than autism. For more information visit the Mayo Clinic site.

Asperger Syndrome

Asperger Syndrome is a subtype of autism and another form of pervasive developmental disorder. Most characteristics are the same as autism. Exceptions are that the child with asperger syndrome may function better in social situations and at school and the child uses more typical speech and thinking patterns. People with asperger syndrome tend to be anxious, poorly coordinated, and eccentric. They frequently have difficulties with sensory areas such as hearing, vision, moving, and touching. For more information go to www.nimh.nih.gov

PDD/NOS

Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) is a 'subthreshold' condition in which some - but not all - features of autism or another explicitly identified Pervasive Developmental Disorder are identified. PDD-NOS is often incorrectly referred to as simply "PDD." The term PDD refers to the class of conditions to which autism belongs. PDD is NOT itself a diagnosis, while PDD-NOS IS a diagnosis. The term Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS; also referred to as "atypical personality development," "atypical PDD," or "atypical autism") is included in DSM-IV to encompass cases where there is marked impairment of social interaction, communication, and/or stereotyped behavior patterns or interest, but when full features for autism or another explicitly defined PDD are not met. For more information go to Yale School of Medicine.