IV. Childhood disintegrative disorder is a condition occurring in 3 and 4 year olds who have developed normally to age 2.
A. Over several months, a child with this disorder will deteriorate in intellectual, social and language functioning from previously normal behavior.
1. They have a complete loss of social and motor skills.
a) Not wanting to play with others, usually run away to secluded areas to be alone.
b) No ability to manipulate small objects, transfer objects from hand to hand, and various eye–hand coordination tasks.
They also have a loss of expressive or receptive language.
a) They lack in the learning of language structure (grammar) and the study of meaning.
b) Screaming, crying and mumbling is what they normally use to get attention or to let someone know that they need or want something.
Transition: Most of you must wonder what the cause of childhood disintegrative disorder is.
B. The cause of childhood disintegrative disorder is highly unknown.
1. This disorder has been linked to neurological problems.
a) Such as the loss of communication skills, this certainly limits the child from normal life.
b) The condition is similar to autistic disorder which in other words is classic autism.
2. The most important signs of childhood disintegrative disorder are loss of developmental milestones.
a) Differentiated from both childhood schizophrenia and pervasive developmental disorder (another form of autism).
Transition: Now do you expect a child with childhood disintegrative disorder to improve through the years.
C. Unfortunately, the prognosis for this disorder is very limited and room for improvement is minimal.
1. The loss of functioning will likely be permanent and limited.
a) To some degree, behaviors can be modified.
2. Medication can also be an alternative to better the functioning of a child with CDD.
a) But some parents are very hesitant to medication...