What is PDD?

What is PDD? PDD stands for Pervasive Developmental Disorders. There are five categories that make up PDD: (1) Autistic Disorder (2) Asperger’s Disorder (3) Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (4) Rett’s Disorder (5) Pervasive Developmental Disorder not otherwise specified.



The common link to all the disorders is problems with communication and social interactions. The term PDD is still relatively new (1980’s). This results in confusion between PDD and PDD-nos. Pervasive Developmental Disorder in itself is not a diagnosis.

Physicians have used this term in a short sense for PDD-nos which is a diagnosis label itself. All this leads to the confusion in terms of what is PDD. For parents, this can be very frustrating. Do not be scared to ask your doctor if he was implying PDD or PDD-nos.

Here is a brief look at the five types of PDD.

1) Autistic Disorder:

Children diagnosed with Autistic Disorder will have a moderate to severe range of communication and socialization problems. Please, see Autism on the menu bar for more information.

2) Asperger’s Disorder:

Individuals with Asperger’s are often diagnosed later than individuals with the Autistic Disorder. Often, Aspies have a high IQ and proficient vocabulary. Like Autism, Asperger individuals have a hard time with socialization, often appearing eccentric. If you want to get more information on Asperger’s, please see Asperger’s on the menu bar.

3) Childhood Disintegrative Disorder:

Children who have Childhood Disintegrative Disorder develop normally for approximately two years. The child will then begin to lose some skills they have acquired in the past. Language, social skills as well as motor skills can degenerate over time.

4) Pervasive Developmental Disorder not otherwise specified:

It is used as a diagnostic label when children do not meet the criteria of symptoms that are present with the other PDD’s.

5) Rett’s Disorder:

It is almost exclusive to females. Development proceeds normally for up to the first year and a half then parents will often notice repetitious behaviors in their children such as hand flapping and fixation on certain items. Motor skills deteriorate over time along with verbal communication.

Mitzi Waltz has written the book “Pervasive Developmental Disorders” which thoroughly explains PDD’s. You can search for the title at Future Horizons (the world leader in Autism publications) by clicking on what is PDD .