Question about PDD

Hi all,
My nephew was diagnosed last week w/a mild case of PDD. He is 25mos old. I don't want to go searching around online and get the "worst" case scenarios of what exactly PDD is and what it means, but as a general question does this mean that eventually he could be on the autism spectrum? Or is he already??

He has sensory issues, only eats purees, and he's not saying any words yet. Of course, there are some other small issues but nothing obvious aside from the eating and talking thing. They bumped EI from 4hrs/week to 15hrs/week.

What do you all think? Could it get worse? Or does it really vary from child to child?

She is very upset, and of course I will be here to listen but I feel pretty helpless otherwise

Thank you so much!

Message edited 11/12/2008 3:48:25 PM.

Re: Question about PDD

You're a great aunt! Your support will mean so much.

PDD is on tha Autsim Spectrum ... but dont be alarmed. He is diagnosed very young and Early Intervention helps SO MUCH. My personal feeling is that a child with PDD left untreated can become worse and fall into more of a true Autism category, but with intervention, they can also move out of the diagnosis. there is so much info out there ... and yor right, some of it can seem alarming, but there are also so many encouraging stories!

Here's some resources for you to explore:

http://www.sensorystreetkids.com/resources.htm

The best thing you can do is just to be supportive. Celebrate his strengths, and encourage him to keep trying to work with his delays.

Re: Question about PDD

Hi there-

The overarching label Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) encompasses Autism, Aspergers, Retts Disorder, Childhood Disintigrative Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). These disorders all involve delays in communication and/or socialization, and/or restricted interests to some degree.

A diagnosis of PDD-NOS (which is what is usually meant when someone says that a child has PDD) basically means that the child exhibits symptoms of autism or one of the other disorders along the spectrum, but does not meet diagnostic criteria for any of the specific diagnoses.

Within each diagnosis, including PDD-NOS, there is a wide range of functioning. Presentation of symptoms and progress really vary from child to child.

That said, it is excellent that your nephew was diagnosed young and is getting early intervention. It is a good thing that they increased his EI because more intervention is better.

I hope this answered some of your questions. Please feel free to ask any more that you may have.