| Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. Bright Tots - Information on child development - Autism information. |
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| Childhood Disintegrative Disorder |
Childhood disintegrative disorder is a condition which displays itself at 3 and 4 years of age on children who have
typical development until age 2. Over several months, a child with this childhood disintegrative disorder will regress in
academic, social, and language functioning from previously typical behavior. Childhood disintegrative disorder is
associated with severe cognitive impairment. Behavioral features of autistic disorder must be present in at least two of
the following areas: inability to interact socially, incapable of communicating needs, prefers solitary play; restricted
repetitive and stereotyped features in behavior. A loss of skills may occur in two of the following areas: expressive or
receptive language, social skills and/or flexible behavior, bowel or bladder control, play, or motor skills.
Alternative Names:
Disintegrative psychosis; Heller syndrome
Signs of Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
Childhood disintegrative disorder indicators may include two or more of the following signs:
• Significant loss of previously achieved age appropriate developmental skills
• Dramatic reverse in expressive and/or receptive language and communication
• Decline of social skills and/or proper behavior ex. frequently shows distress
• Change in manner of play no longer natural it now becomes a ritual
• Delays in developmental motor skills ex. (gross, fine and cognitive skills)
• Failure to control bowel and/or bladder movements
Characteristics of childhood disintegrative disorder are as follows:
Limited social interactions for instance lack of mutual emotion, avoids eye contact, unable to develop social
relationships with peers the same age, or inappropriate disturbances.
Poor communication and/or language skills such as fails to use acquired language, failure to initiate or maintain
conversation, involuntary repetition of words or phrases just spoken by others ex. Echolalia.
Changes in pattern of active play likes lining up toys and has no imaginative play, interests include insignificant objects
and predictable schedule when in action.
Social and gross motor traits or mannerisms such as spinning, looking in short glances, looking through fingers,
looking sideways, hand flapping, and tip toe walking.
Causes of Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
The cause of childhood disintegrative disorder is unknown, but it has been linked to neurological irregularities. Children
with childhood disintegrative disorder show a loss of communication skills, have a relapse in nonverbal behaviors, and
significant loss of formerly acquired skills. The condition is very similar to autism spectrum disorders. Childhood
disintegrative disorder has some similarity to autism, but a visible period of fairly normal development is often observed
before a loss in skills or a sequence of regressions in all developmental skills. Many children are already noticeably
delayed when the disorder becomes apparent, but these delays are not always obvious in very young children.
The age at which this regression can occur varies, and can be from age 2-10 with the description of the onset
depending largely on a diagnosis. Deterioration can be very sudden, and the child may even voice concern about what is
occurring, much to everyone’s amazement. Some children explain or seem to be portraying a daydream, but the most
obvious symptom is that skills that were once gained are then lost. This has been described by clinicians as a
devastating condition, affecting both the family and the child's future.
The exact causes of Childhood disintegrative disorder are still unknown and further research; investigation and study
are required to understand the causes which result in this disorder. Occasionally childhood disintegrative disorder
emerges suddenly within days or weeks while sometimes it develops over a longer period of time. Extensive medical
and neurological investigation in children diagnosed with childhood disintegrative disorder rarely uncovers an underlying
medical or neurological cause. Although the incident of epilepsy is higher in children with childhood disintegrative
disorder, experts don't know whether epilepsy plays a role in causing the disorder.
Childhood disintegrative disorder has also been associated with other conditions, particularly the following:
Lipid storage diseases: Lipid storage diseases, or the lipidoses, are a group of inherited metabolic disorders in which
harmful amounts of fatty materials called lipids accumulate in some of the body’s cells and tissues. People with these
disorders either do not produce enough of one of the enzymes needed to metabolize lipids or they produce enzymes that
do not work properly. Over time, this excessive storage of fats can cause permanent cellular and tissue damage,
particularly in the brain, peripheral nervous system, liver, spleen, and bone marrow.
Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: is a rare chronic, progressive encephalitis that affects primarily children and
young adults, caused by a persistent infection of immune resistant measles virus (which can be a result of a mutation of
the virus itself). 1 in 100,000 people infected with measles are at risk. SSPE is 'incurable' but the condition can be
managed by medication if treatment is started at an early stage.
Tuberous sclerosis or tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC): is a rare, multi-system genetic disease that causes benign
tumors to grow in the brain and on other vital organs such as the kidneys, heart, eyes, lungs, and skin. A combination
of symptoms may include seizures, developmental delay, behavioral problems, skin abnormalities, and lung and kidney
disease.
Experts also suspect there may be a genetic basis or that an autoimmune response (the immune response of the body
against substance normally present in the body) may play a role in the development of childhood disintegrative disorder.
In an autoimmune response, your body's immune system attacks itself.
Treatment
There is no established cure for childhood disintegrative disorder, loss of language; social interaction and self-care are
significantly serious. Treatment for the disorder is basically the same as for autism it involves both behavior therapy and
medications.
• Behavior therapy: Its aim is to teach the child to improve language, self-care and social skills. Both behavioral
training and behavioral management use positive reinforcement to improve behavior. They also use social skills training
to improve communication. The specific program should be chosen according to the child's needs. Consistent use of
these behavioral interventions produces the best results. The child's functional abilities, behavior, and daily environment
should be thoroughly assessed before behavioral training and management begins. Parents, other family members,
teachers, and caregivers of the child should all be trained in these techniques.
• Medications: There are no medications available to treat directly the childhood disintegrative disorder.
Antipsychotic medications are used to treat severe behavior problems like aggressive demeanor and repetitive behavior
patterns. Anticonvulsant medications are used to control epileptic seizures.
The outcome for children with childhood disintegrative disorder is usually severe, and more intense than for children
with autism. The loss of language, cognitive, social and self-care skills tends to be significant and permanently
disabling. As a result, children with the disorder often need residential care in a group home or long term care facility
during adulthood.
typical development until age 2. Over several months, a child with this childhood disintegrative disorder will regress in
academic, social, and language functioning from previously typical behavior. Childhood disintegrative disorder is
associated with severe cognitive impairment. Behavioral features of autistic disorder must be present in at least two of
the following areas: inability to interact socially, incapable of communicating needs, prefers solitary play; restricted
repetitive and stereotyped features in behavior. A loss of skills may occur in two of the following areas: expressive or
receptive language, social skills and/or flexible behavior, bowel or bladder control, play, or motor skills.
Alternative Names:
Disintegrative psychosis; Heller syndrome
Signs of Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
Childhood disintegrative disorder indicators may include two or more of the following signs:
• Significant loss of previously achieved age appropriate developmental skills
• Dramatic reverse in expressive and/or receptive language and communication
• Decline of social skills and/or proper behavior ex. frequently shows distress
• Change in manner of play no longer natural it now becomes a ritual
• Delays in developmental motor skills ex. (gross, fine and cognitive skills)
• Failure to control bowel and/or bladder movements
Characteristics of childhood disintegrative disorder are as follows:
Limited social interactions for instance lack of mutual emotion, avoids eye contact, unable to develop social
relationships with peers the same age, or inappropriate disturbances.
Poor communication and/or language skills such as fails to use acquired language, failure to initiate or maintain
conversation, involuntary repetition of words or phrases just spoken by others ex. Echolalia.
Changes in pattern of active play likes lining up toys and has no imaginative play, interests include insignificant objects
and predictable schedule when in action.
Social and gross motor traits or mannerisms such as spinning, looking in short glances, looking through fingers,
looking sideways, hand flapping, and tip toe walking.
Causes of Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
The cause of childhood disintegrative disorder is unknown, but it has been linked to neurological irregularities. Children
with childhood disintegrative disorder show a loss of communication skills, have a relapse in nonverbal behaviors, and
significant loss of formerly acquired skills. The condition is very similar to autism spectrum disorders. Childhood
disintegrative disorder has some similarity to autism, but a visible period of fairly normal development is often observed
before a loss in skills or a sequence of regressions in all developmental skills. Many children are already noticeably
delayed when the disorder becomes apparent, but these delays are not always obvious in very young children.
The age at which this regression can occur varies, and can be from age 2-10 with the description of the onset
depending largely on a diagnosis. Deterioration can be very sudden, and the child may even voice concern about what is
occurring, much to everyone’s amazement. Some children explain or seem to be portraying a daydream, but the most
obvious symptom is that skills that were once gained are then lost. This has been described by clinicians as a
devastating condition, affecting both the family and the child's future.
The exact causes of Childhood disintegrative disorder are still unknown and further research; investigation and study
are required to understand the causes which result in this disorder. Occasionally childhood disintegrative disorder
emerges suddenly within days or weeks while sometimes it develops over a longer period of time. Extensive medical
and neurological investigation in children diagnosed with childhood disintegrative disorder rarely uncovers an underlying
medical or neurological cause. Although the incident of epilepsy is higher in children with childhood disintegrative
disorder, experts don't know whether epilepsy plays a role in causing the disorder.
Childhood disintegrative disorder has also been associated with other conditions, particularly the following:
Lipid storage diseases: Lipid storage diseases, or the lipidoses, are a group of inherited metabolic disorders in which
harmful amounts of fatty materials called lipids accumulate in some of the body’s cells and tissues. People with these
disorders either do not produce enough of one of the enzymes needed to metabolize lipids or they produce enzymes that
do not work properly. Over time, this excessive storage of fats can cause permanent cellular and tissue damage,
particularly in the brain, peripheral nervous system, liver, spleen, and bone marrow.
Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: is a rare chronic, progressive encephalitis that affects primarily children and
young adults, caused by a persistent infection of immune resistant measles virus (which can be a result of a mutation of
the virus itself). 1 in 100,000 people infected with measles are at risk. SSPE is 'incurable' but the condition can be
managed by medication if treatment is started at an early stage.
Tuberous sclerosis or tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC): is a rare, multi-system genetic disease that causes benign
tumors to grow in the brain and on other vital organs such as the kidneys, heart, eyes, lungs, and skin. A combination
of symptoms may include seizures, developmental delay, behavioral problems, skin abnormalities, and lung and kidney
disease.
Experts also suspect there may be a genetic basis or that an autoimmune response (the immune response of the body
against substance normally present in the body) may play a role in the development of childhood disintegrative disorder.
In an autoimmune response, your body's immune system attacks itself.
Treatment
There is no established cure for childhood disintegrative disorder, loss of language; social interaction and self-care are
significantly serious. Treatment for the disorder is basically the same as for autism it involves both behavior therapy and
medications.
• Behavior therapy: Its aim is to teach the child to improve language, self-care and social skills. Both behavioral
training and behavioral management use positive reinforcement to improve behavior. They also use social skills training
to improve communication. The specific program should be chosen according to the child's needs. Consistent use of
these behavioral interventions produces the best results. The child's functional abilities, behavior, and daily environment
should be thoroughly assessed before behavioral training and management begins. Parents, other family members,
teachers, and caregivers of the child should all be trained in these techniques.
• Medications: There are no medications available to treat directly the childhood disintegrative disorder.
Antipsychotic medications are used to treat severe behavior problems like aggressive demeanor and repetitive behavior
patterns. Anticonvulsant medications are used to control epileptic seizures.
The outcome for children with childhood disintegrative disorder is usually severe, and more intense than for children
with autism. The loss of language, cognitive, social and self-care skills tends to be significant and permanently
disabling. As a result, children with the disorder often need residential care in a group home or long term care facility
during adulthood.
| ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Copyright © 2004 Bright Tots® Inc. - Educational Toys & Resource Guide to Child Development - All rights reserved. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
| Childhood Disintegrative Disorder |
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