The term Pervasive developmental disorder was first used in the 1980s to describe a class of disorders. This class of disorders has in common the following characteristics: impairments in social interaction, imaginative activity, verbal and nonverbal communication skills, and a limited number of interests and activities that tend to be repetitive.

Generally, children are 3 to 4 years old before they exhibit enough symptoms for parents to seek a diagnosis. There is no set pattern of symptoms and signs in children with pervasive developmental disorder. It is important to realize that a very wide range of diversity is seen in children with PDD. All children with PDD do not have the same degree or intensity of the disorder. Pervasive developmental disorder can be mild, with the child exhibiting a few symptoms while in the school or neighborhood environment. Other children may have a more severe form of PDD and have difficulties in all areas of their lives.

At Thoughtful House we specialize in treating PDD through a combination of medical care and education. Contact us to see how we can help.