Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified 63delayed from birth. Some children seem to develop normally before they sud-
denly lose social or language skills (called regressive autism). Others show
normal development until they have enough language to demonstrate unusual
thoughts and preoccupations. Granted, many of these children do have autism
but all of them are not autistic! In some children, a loss of language is the major
impairment. In others, unusual behaviors (like spending hours lining up toys)
seem to be the dominant factors. Parents are usually the first to notice some-
thing is wrong. But a diagnosis of autism is often delayed. Parents or a physi-
cian may downplay early signs of autism, suggesting the symptoms are “just a
phase” or a sign of a minor delay in development. As we described above, until
recently, the types of ASD were determined by guidelines in the diagnostic
manual (DSM‐IV) of the APA. According to the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC), the three main types of ASD were:
● Asperger syndrome
● Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD‐NOS)
● Autistic disorder
The DSM‐IV also included two rare but severe autistic‐like conditions – Rett
syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder.
The new diagnostic manual (DSM‐5) has made some major changes in this
list of disorders. It is unclear, though, how these changes will affect the way
health professionals define exactly what is an ASD.
Asperger Syndrome
The mildest form of autism, Asperger syndrome, affects boys 10 times more
often than girls. Children with Asperger syndrome become obsessively inter-
ested in a single object or topic. They often learn all about their preferred sub-
ject and discuss it nonstop. Their social skills, however, are markedly impaired,
and they are often awkward and uncoordinated.
Asperger syndrome is mild compared to other ASDs. Also, children with Asperger
syndrome frequently have normal to above average intelligence. As a result, some
doctors call it “high‐functioning autism.” As children with Asperger syndrome enter
adulthood, though, they are at high risk of anxiety and depression.
Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified
This mouthful of a diagnosis applies to most children with ASD. Children
whose autism is more severe than Asperger syndrome, but not as severe as
autistic disorder, are diagnosed with PDD‐NOS.