Childhood Disintegrative Disorder

Autistic Disorder	Asperger's Disorder
Rett's Disorder	Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
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Childhood Disintegrative Disorder involves severe regression in language, adaptive behavior, and motor skills after a period of normal development for approximately 2-4 years.

Diagnostic Criteria for Childhood Disintegrative Disorder:

A. Apparently normal development for at least the first 2 years after birth as manifested by the presence of age-appropriate verbal and nonverbal communication, social relationships, play, and adaptive behavior.

B. Clinically significant loss of previously acquired skills (before age 10 years) in at least two of the following areas:

(1) expressive or receptive language
(2) social skills or adaptive behavior
(3) bowel or bladder control
(4) play
(5) motor skills

C. Abnormalities of functioning in at least two of the following areas:

(1) qualitative impairment in social interaction (e.g., impairment in nonverbal behaviors, failure to develop peer relationships, lack of social or emotional reciprocity)
(2) qualitative impairments in communication (e.g., delay or lack of spoken language, inability to initiate or sustain a conversation, stereotyped and repetitive use of language, lack of varied make-believe play)
(3) restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, including motor stereotypies and mannerisms

D. The disturbance is not better accounted for by another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder or by Schizophrenia.

Personal Stories of Childhood Disintegrative Disorder:

"Chloe is now 4 yrs old, She severly regressed at the age of 3yr and 6 mts, She lost her communication first, then started to freak out at the strangest thing, One moment she would laugh the next she would cry. Then she lost her toilet skills and is now currently back in nappies. The last skill to go was how she ate food, she used to eat with a knife and fork now its with her hands. Chole on occasions is gripped with anxiety and she now takes medication daily. Chole also walks on tiptoe on occasions. All this happened in less then a fortnight. Chole had intensive tests at bristol childrens hospital. Nothing abnormal was found. Chloe has now been diagnosis with chdd. She is now placed in a special nursery and has been coping quite well."

"Our son Eddie is diagnosed with CDD. He is 8 yrs old. When he was five yrs old he began losing all academic, language, social, and toileting skills. He also started taking Partial Complex Seizures. This all happened over 5 days. He had extensive tests at Hershey Medical Center. Nothing abnormal was found. At present time Eddie is more like a toddler than an 8 yr old. He can't remember names of certain objects and he is now having problems with his motor skills. He has not regained a whole lot back. This is probably one of the most devastating things to watch your child go through."

If you would like to share your personal story of living with or raising a child with this disorder, please submit it here.

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Do-Watch-Listen-Say: Social and Communication Intervention for Children With Autism

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Children With Starving Brains: A Medical Treatment Guide for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Second Edition