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In order for something to disintegrate, it must have been integrated; and so it is with Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. To make this diagnosis, the clinician must have evidence that a child's development appeared to be normal for at least the first 2 years, and the diagnosis must be made before the child is 10 years old. After onset, there must have been a significant loss of skills in at least two of the following areas of functioning: motor skills, language skills, social skills or adaptive behavior, play, and bowel or bladder control. In many cases the deterioration stops after a time, but improvement is rare and limited. The problems in social interaction and communication will endure throughout life in most cases. An immediate and thorough medical workup is indicated as soon as possible after symptoms are observed in case the problem is the outcome of a remediable medical condition. In most cases, however, no identifiable medical cause is found. Visit a United Kingdom web site that has more information on Childhood Disintegrative Disorder and links to related conditions. Last updated 12/19/03 |
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