Pervasive Developmental Disorders

PDD

• Severe impairment in several areas of development

Autism• AKA ?

Prevalence

• Autism is the most common PDD

• Numbers on rise – growing at 10-17 % per year (U.S. Dept. of Ed.)

• Translation – over the next decade numbers could reach 4 million Americans

• Most prevalent in boys• Fastest growing developmental

disability

Early Diagnosis (National Institute of Child Health & Human Development)

• May/not be apparent by 18-24 months:–Does not babble/coo by 12 m.–Does not gesture/wave by 12 m.–Does not use single words by 16m–Does not say 2 word phrases by 24 m.

• No racial, ethnic, social, SES or educational boundaries

• Autism is a spectrum disorder – wide variety of combinations from mild- severe

• Some Characteristics:

Myths about Autism

Causes

• No known single cause

Asperger’s Syndrome• What is it?

• Egocentric

• Only officially included in Medical Manuals since 1994

Rett’s Syndrome

* Misleading to parents during first several months of life

• Caused by mutations found on the X chromosome ( gene identified in 1999)

• No cure

• Females can expect to reach adulthood surviving into their 40’s

Teaching Strategies

• Sensory overload in gymnasium – major problem

• Transitions – signal preparation• Pictorial representations• What have you observed at your clinical

sites?

–Elementary

–Junior/ HS- Develop sport, recreation, leisure skills- “Transferable, useful skills”