Childhood Disintegrative Disorder Test

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational purposes only. Consult a qualified medical professional for advice and clarification.

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD), also known as "Heller's Syndrome" and "Disintegrative Psychosis", is a rare condition.

After 3 years of age, clients experience developmental delays in language, social function, and motor skills. Researchers have yet to find a cause for it.

The table below provides a simplified version of the DSM-IV definition, used by professionals to diagnose disorders.

To make a rough assessment of whether a person has Childhood Disintegrative Disorder or not, tick the box under "ANS" if your client matches the description.

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Criteria ANS
A. The client develops normally for the first 2 years after birth, just like other children his age.
B. Before age 10, the client loses much of his previously acquired skills in at least two of the following areas:

1 Expressing and understanding speech
2

Social skills & flexibility in handling unexpected social situations
3

Control over passing urine or stools
4 The ability to play with other children
5 The ability to control and coordinate his body

C. The client behaves very strangely in at least 2 of these areas:

1 Poor social interaction (e.g. does not use body language, does not make friends with others of the same age, prefers to be alone)
2 Poor communications skills (e.g. delay in speaking or no speech, cannot start or continue a conversation, keeps repeating the same words or phrases, lack of make-believe play)
3 Has very narrow interests and insists on repeating certain behavior for no reason

D. The client does not suffer from another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia
probably NOT CDD

 

DSM-IV definition for Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (299.10)

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

  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 & repetitive use of language, lack of varied make-believe play)
  3. Restricted, repetitive, & stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, & activities, including motor stereotypes & mannerisms

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

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Last modified: Fri, 28 March 2008
Note: This may be only a minor modification (e.g. changing a spelling mistake)