The term “pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs)” was used by the medical community to describe developmental delays in children, including problems with socializing and communicating, trouble adapting to changes in routine changes, and engaging in repetitive movements and behaviors. In 2013, this term was replaced, and PDDs is no longer used. It’s now called autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
“There were about five different diagnoses one could have [under a PDD diagnoses], such as Asperger’s syndrome, autistic disorder, pervasive development disorder — not otherwise specified, etc.,” explains J. Thomas Megerian, MD, PhD, a pediatric neurologist specializing in ASD and other neurodevelopmental disorders at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) in California. “I think people felt it was confusing.”
Using the term “PDDs” created other challenges too, as it often led to inconsistent diagnoses, adds Jina Jang, PhD, a pediatric psychologist, CHOC. The change to ASD helped make the diagnosis clearer and more accurate.
Because you still might see PDDs in older information, we’ll use both terms in this article.
Symptoms of Pervasive Development Disorders
Children on the autism spectrum have problems with social communication and interactions, and they often repeat certain behaviors. They may also:
- Avoid eye contact
- Not be able to express what they’re thinking through language
- Have a high-pitched or flat voice
- Find it hard to keep up a conversation
- Have trouble controlling emotions
- Perform repetitive behaviors such as hand-flapping, rocking, jumping, or twirling
Children on the spectrum may repeat certain types of play, have trouble with “make-believe,” and be more interested in parts of a toy, rather than the toy itself. They need strict schedules and don’t like changes to their routines.
Keep in mind that the spectrum has a wide range. Some people with ASD can live on their own, go to school, and hold a job. You might not know that they have a condition. Others have severe disabilities. And many are somewhere between those two ends of the spectrum.
Causes of Pervasive Development Disorder
Finding all the causes of ASD is a big topic of research. Scientists do know that genetics is one of the risk factors, but they don’t have all the answers yet. There’s not one “autism gene” that’s at work. Many things, in addition to genes, may be involved.
PDD Risk Factors
PDD, or ASD, can affect anyone, but Megerian explains that many risk factors can increase the chances of having ASD, with some being stronger than others. For example, if you already have a child with ASD, it raises the odds of having another child with the condition. Other causes include being born before 37 weeks of gestation. The more premature your baby, the higher the risk.
Researchers are also looking at genetics and environmental issues. Some genetic changes or mutations might increase the risk, as might maternal exposure to contaminants, such as air pollution.
“Genetic risk factors play the biggest role in determining the risk of autism, but there is increasing evidence that certain environmental factors and exposures may play a significant role in increasing risk,” Megerian says. “Older parental age, birth complications, and the health of the mother have all been proposed to be risk factors, but are still being actively investigated.”
Some researchers have looked at the age of each parent, both separately and combined, to see if this can have an impact on ASD. According to some studies, children could be at higher risk of ASD if either or both parents are older, with the risk rising every five years of the mother’s age. For example, a mother in her 40s has a 50% higher risk of having a child with ASD than a mother in her late 20s.
Finally, having certain other medical conditions could be a risk factor too because ASD often doesn’t happen on its own. Many people who have it also have conditions such as:
Pervasive Developmental Disorder Diagnosis
There are several types of health care professionals who can make a PDD diagnosis, but even your regular doctor may suspect the diagnosis based on developmental screens, typically done at 9 months, 18 months, and 24 months of age. The specialists are:
- Child psychiatrists
- Child psychologists
- Pediatric neurologists
- Developmental pediatricians
Regardless of who is working with your child, they have to use a variety of tools to confirm the diagnosis. “There is no single test like a blood test or brain scan for ASD diagnosis,” Jang says. “There is also no one single standardized assessment. ASD is diagnosed through a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation including clinical interviews, parent reports, direct behavioral observation, and standardized assessments.”
The professional will observe your child and ask questions about your child’s behaviors and communication skills.
While there’s no lab test for an autism spectrum disorder, there are other types of tests they may want to do, such as hearing and speech evaluation and genetic testing.
The key is to find out as soon as possible if a child is on the spectrum. That way, you can line up resources to help meet your child's individual needs. The sooner that starts, the better.
Pervasive Developmental Disorder Treatment
There are no medications for PDD/ASD itself, but there may be medications to help manage related issues, and this could ease symptoms.
According to Megerian, there’s a very high rate of anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among children with ASD. Some of them take medications to help manage these with success.
“Some individuals with ASD do respond well to those medications,” Megerian says. “One example is the use of stimulants for ADHD. This is often the first line of medical treatment for ADHD and may also work when the person has ASD and ADHD.”
But Megerian also points out that there are higher rates of side effects for some children with the two conditions who take a stimulant. When that happens, nonstimulant medications might be better. It’s also important to keep in mind that sometimes, medications that work well for someone with one condition alone might not be as effective in someone else who has both ADHD and ASD.
The only medications approved for use in people with ASD are specifically for those who have irritability too, Megerian adds. These include risperidone and aripiprazole. They may help people with ASD who have signs of irritability that can result in self-injuries, temper tantrums, and rapid mood changes.
Medication often works best when paired with therapies that develop socialization and other life skills. So with or without medications, children with ASD may benefit from:
- Occupational therapy to help learn how to perform everyday activities
- Physical therapy for movement and balance
- Speech therapy for communication
- Music and art therapy, which could help improve cognitive skills, as well as emotional and social skills
They also might get help from:
- Behavior therapy
- Communication therapy
- Educational therapy
- Family therapy
Another possible therapy is called applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy, but there is some controversy around it. The therapy uses rewards to reinforce certain behaviors and the ABA reward system may not always consider cultural, ethnic, and other factors when working with diverse populations.
Keep in mind that people who are on the spectrum experience the world differently from those who aren’t. Their victories and challenges might be very different from yours. If your child is on the spectrum, appreciate them as they are with their own unique personalities and interests. Also, get them the support and skills that could make a big difference in their future.
Can You Prevent PDD?
To prevent a condition, researchers need to know what causes it and this isn’t the case for ASD yet. “Although we know that ASD is not caused by vaccines or parenting style, there is no known one single cause of autism,” Jang says.
“Parents often blame themselves for diseases that their children have,” says Megerian. Some wonder if a medication they took or something in their genetic makeup caused their child to have ASD. “We explain to them that autism is the result of many factors.”
He pointed to the examples of twin studies that show if one twin has ASD, the other twin is not guaranteed to have it, even if they’re identical twins, which means they share the same genetics. “This is probably the best evidence against parents feeling that they caused their child’s autism,” adds Megerian.
That said, Megerian points out that there are things everyone can do to lower the chances of having a child with neurodevelopmental disorders in general, such as taking care of yourself and not smoking or consuming alcohol to name a few. “But there are no known steps any parent can take to prevent their child from having ASD,” says Megerian.
Takeaways
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the term that replaced pervasive developmental disorders (PPDs), is a condition that affects how someone interacts with the world around them. It ranges in severity but can cause problems with social interaction, communication, and behavior. Many people with ASD have other disorders too, such as ADHD and anxiety. If you suspect your child might have ASD, it’s important to try to get a diagnosis as early as possible so you and others can work with your child to help them get the best treatment for their needs.
Pervasive Development Disorder FAQs
How common are pervasive developmental disorders?
PPD, or ASD as it’s called now, affects about 1 in every 36 children in the U.S.
Do vaccines cause pervasive developmental disorders?
No, there is no evidence that vaccines cause PDDs, now known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
How is PPD different from autism?
PPD is the old name for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD is preferred over the term autism because there is a large range, or spectrum, of ability among people who have ASD.
Is PPD a mental illness?
No. PPD, now called ASD, is not a mental illness. It’s a neurological and developmental disorder.
Can PPD be cured?
PPD, now called ASD, can’t be cured but many who get early interventions and treatment for accompanying conditions might be able to control some of the behaviors and issues associated with the disorder.
