Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)
What does it look like?
How common is it?
What causes it?
How long does it last?
What treatments are effective?

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Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)
There are several disorders under the umbrella term Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD): autistic disorder, PDD-NOS, Asperger Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder.

What does it look like?
Children with a PDD may be affected in all domains of their development, although there is great variability in individual strengths and weaknesses.  All children with PDDs experience problems with language, social communication (e.g., limited eye contact and pointing), ability to use their imagination, and engaging instead in repetitive behaviours. Many have general learning problems.

How common is it?
About 1:165 children have a PDD.

What causes it?
There is no known cause, although it is likely that PDDs have a genetic basis influenced in some way by the environment. 

How long does it last?
PDDs are lifelong conditions with improvement possible in some or all areas of functioning as the child matures.

What treatments are effective?
Children with PDD are often given Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA).

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helpful.