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Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
Children with Childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD) appear to develop normally for the first two
years of life, but then lose skills in areas such
as language, play, and bowel control and manifest
impaired social interaction and communication
associated with restrictive, repetitive,
stereotyped behaviors.
Childhood disintegrative disorder and autism are
among several developmental disorders known as
pervasive developmental disorders or autism
spectrum disorders. Childhood disintegrative
disorder is also known as Heller's syndrome after
the Viennese educator, Theodor Heller, who first
described the condition. Childhood disintegrative
disorder is perhaps 10 times less common than
more strictly defined autism.
Childhood disintegrative disorder is a rare
serious disorder in which a child older than age
3 stops developing normally and regresses to a
much lower level of functioning, typically
following a serious illness, such as an infection
of the brain and nervous system. Childhood
disintegrative disorder cannot be specifically
treated or cured, and most children, particularly
those who are severely retarded, need lifelong
care.
Social and emotional development regress,
resulting in impaired ability to relate with
others. Social interactions become compromised (e.
g., aggressiveness, tantrums, withdrawal from
peers), as does motor function, resulting in poor
coordination and possible awkwardness of gait.
Typically language, interest in the social
environment, and often toileting and self-care
abilities are lost, and there may be a general
loss of interest in the environment. Children
with CDD became uninterested in social
interaction, and various unusual self-stimulatory
behaviors became evident. Over several months, a
child with this disorder will deteriorate in
intellectual, social, and language functioning
from previously normal behavior.
Symptoms:
· Loss of social skills
· Loss of bowel and bladder control
· Loss of expressive or receptive language
· Loss of motor skills
· Lack of play
· Failure to develop peer relationships
· Impairment in nonverbal behaviors
· Delay or lack of spoken language
· Inability to start or sustain a conversation
Doctors sometimes confuse this rare disorder with
late-onset autism because both conditions involve
normal development followed by significant loss
of language, social, play and motor skills.
Behavioral changes are followed by loss of
communication, social, and motor skills.
Behavioral impairments include the repetitive,
stereotyped motions and rigid adherence to
routines that are characteristic of autism.
Behavior modification procedures may be quite
useful. Behavior therapy programs may be designed
to help your child learn or relearn language,
social and self-care skills.
Treatment is the same for autistic disorder (
autism) because of the similarity in the two
disorders. Treatment can be very difficult and
prolonged. Treatment of CDD involves both
behavior therapy and medications.
Specific treatment for CDD will be determined by
your child's physician based on your child's age,
overall health and medical history. Treatment
plans are individualized based on each child's
symptoms and the level of severity.