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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffChildren with childhood disintegrative disorder typically show the following signs and symptoms:
Dramatic loss of previously acquired skills in two or more of the following areas:
- Language, including a severe decline in the ability to speak and have a conversation
- Social skills, including significant difficulty relating to and interacting with others
- Play, including a loss of interest in imaginary play and in a variety of games and activities
- Motor skills, including a dramatic decline in the ability to walk, climb, grasp objects and other movements
- Bowel or bladder control, including frequent accidents in a child who was previously toilet-trained
Loss of developmental milestones may occur abruptly over the course of days to weeks or gradually over an extended period of time.
When to see a doctor
Children typically develop at their own pace, but any loss of developmental milestones is cause for concern. If your child has suddenly lost previously acquired language, social, motor, play, thinking (cognitive) or self-help skills (such as toilet training and feeding) contact your doctor. In addition, if you suspect that your child has gradually shown a loss in any area of development, talk to your doctor.
- Childhood disintegrative disorder. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed May 18, 2010.
- Pervasive developmental disorders. In: Hales RE, et al., eds. The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychiatry. 5th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2008. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed May 18, 2010.
- Childhood disintegrative disorder. In: Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/203193401-3/1005176842/1608/73.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50031-1--cesec12_466 Accessed May 18, 2010.
- Pervasive developmental disorders. In: Stern TA, et al. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/203193401-5/1005177285/1657/637.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-04743-2..50071-8--cesec46_1911. Accessed May 18, 2010.
- Augustyn M. Terminology, epidemiology, and pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 18, 2010.
- Autism spectrum disorders (pervasive developmental disorders). National Institute of Mental Health. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/autism/complete-index.shtml. Accessed May 18, 2010.
- Augustyn M. Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 18, 2010.
- Hoecker JL (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. May 18, 2010.
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