General Information about
AUTISM and PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER
Fact Sheet Number 1 (FS1), April 2000
A publication of...
NICHCY
National Information Center for Children
and Youth with Disabilities
P.O. Box 1492
Washington, DC 20013
E-Mail: nichcy@aed.org
Web: www.nichcy.org
1-800-695-0285 (V/TTY)
This information is copyright free, unless otherwise indicated.
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National
Information
Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities.
DEFINITION
Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder-NOS
(not otherwise
specified)
are developmental disabilities that share
many of the same
characteristics.
Usually evident by age three, autism and PDD-NOS are
neurological
disorders
that affect a child’s ability to communicate,
understand language, play,
and
relate to others.
In the diagnostic manual used to classify disabilities,
the DSM-IV
(American
Psychiatric Association, 1994),
“autistic disorder” is listed as a
category
under the heading of
“Pervasive Developmental Disorders.” A diagnosis of
autistic disorder
is made when an individual displays 6 or more of
12
symptoms listed across three major areas: social interaction,
communication,
and behavior. When children display similar
behaviors but do not meet
the
criteria for autistic disorder,
they may receive a diagnosis of
Pervasive
Developmental Disorder-NOS
(PDD not otherwise specified).
Although
the
diagnosis is referred to as PDD-NOS,
throughout the remainder of this
fact
sheet,
we will refer to the diagnosis as PDD, as it is more commonly
known.
Autistic disorder is one of the disabilities specifically
defined in the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA),
the federal
legislation
under which children and youth with disabilities
receive special
education
and related services. IDEA, which uses the term “autism,”
defines the
disorder as “a developmental disability significantly
affecting verbal
and
nonverbal communication and
social interaction, usually evident before
age
3,
that adversely affects a child’s educational performance.
Other
characteristics often associated with autism are
engagement in
repetitive
activities and stereotyped movements,
resistance to environmental change
or
change in daily routines,
and unusual responses to sensory experiences.”
(In
keeping with the IDEA and the way in which
this disorder is generally
referred to in the field,
we will use the term autism throughout the
remainder of this fact sheet.)
Due to the similarity of behaviors associated with autism
and PDD, use
of
the term pervasive developmental disorder
has caused some confusion
among
parents and professionals.
However, the treatment and educational needs
are
similar for both diagnoses.
INCIDENCE
Autism and PDD occur in approximately 5 to 15 per 10,000 births.
These
disorders are four times more common in boys than girls.
The causes of autism and PDD are unknown.
Currently, researchers are
investigating areas such as neurological
damage and biochemical
imbalance in
the brain.
These disorders are not caused by psychological factors.
CHARACTERISTICS
Some or all of the following characteristics may be observed
in mind to
severe forms:
- Communication problems (e.g., using and understanding language);
- Difficulty in relating to people, objects, and events;
- Unusual play with toys and other objects;
- Difficulty with changes in routine or familiar surroundings;
and
- Repetitive body movements or behavior patterns.
Children with autism or PDD vary widely in abilities,
intelligence, and
behaviors. Some children do not speak;
others have limited language that
often includes
repeated phrases or conversations.
People with more
advanced
language skills tend to use
a small range of topics and have difficulty
with
abstract concepts.
Repetitive play skills, a limited range of
interests,
and
impaired social skills are generally evident as well.
Unusual responses
to
sensory information -- for example,
loud noises, lights, certain
textures of
food or fabrics -- are also common.
EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS
Early diagnosis and appropriate educational programs
are very important
to
children with autism or PDD.
Public Law 105-17, the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA),
formerly the Education of the
Handicapped
Act,
includes autism as a disability category.
From the age of
three,
children with autism and PDD
are eligible for an educational program
appropriate
to their individual needs. Educational programs
for
students
with autism or PDD focus on improving communication,
social, academic,
behavioral, and daily living skills.
Behavior and communication problems
that interfere with
learning sometimes require the assistance of a
knowledgeable professional
in the autism field who develops and helps to
implement a plan
which can be carried out at home and school.
The classroom environment should be structured so that the
program is
consistent and predictable. Students with autism
or PDD learn better and
are
less confused when information
is presented visually as well as
verbally.
Interaction with nondisabled peers is also important,
for these students
provide models of appropriate language,
social, and behavior skills. To
overcome frequent problems
in generalizing skills learned at school, it
is
very important to develop
programs with parents, so that learning
activities, experiences,
and approaches can be carried over into the
home
and community.
With educational programs designed to meet a student's
individual needs
and
specialized adult support services
in employment and living
arrangements,
children and adults with autism
or PDD can live and work in the
community.
RESOURCES
Harris, S. (1994). Siblings of children with autism:
A guide for
families.
Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House. (Telephone: 1-800-843-7323.)
Harris, S.L., & Weiss, M.J. (1998). Right from the start:
Behavioral
intervention for young children with autism:
A guide for parents and
professionals. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House.
(Telephone:
1-800-843-7323.)
Hart, C.A. (1993). A parent's guide to autism:
Answers to the most
common
questions. New York
Pocket Books, Simon & Schuster Co. [Telephone:
1-800-223-2336.]
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
[Available from Plenum
Publishing Corporation,
233 Spring Street New York, NY 10013. Telephone:
1-800-221-9369.]
Maurice, C., Green, G., & Luce, S.C. (Eds.).
(1996). Behavioral
intervention
for young children with autism:
A manual for parents and
professionals.
Austin, TX: Pro-Ed. (Telephone: 1-800-897-3202.)
McClannaham, L.E., & Krantz, P.J. (1999).
Activity schedules for
children
with autism:
Teaching independent behavior. Bethesda, MD:
Woodbine
House.
(Telephone: 1-800-843-7323.)
Powers, M.D. (Ed.). (1989). Children with autism:
A parent's guide.
Rockville, MD: Woodbine House.
[Telephone: 1-800-843-7323; (301)
897-3570.]
Schopler, E., & Mesibov, G.B. (Eds.).
Books available in the "Current
Issues
in Autism" book series include:
High-functioning individuals with autism
(1992);
Preschool issues in autism (1993);
Behavioral issues in
autism
(1995);
Learning and cognition in autism (1995);
and Asperger
syndrome or
high-functioning autism? (1998).
[All are available from Kluwer Academic
Publishers at (781) 871-6600.]
ORGANIZATIONS
Autism Hotline
Autism Services Center
P.O. Box 507
Huntington, WV 25710-0507
(304) 525-8014
Autism National Committee
635 Ardmore Avenue
Ardmore, PA 19003-1831
Web: http://www.autcom.org
Autism Society of America
7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 300
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 657-0881
Web: www.autism-society.org
For information and referral, call 1-800-328-8476.
Indiana Resource Center for Autism
Indiana Institute on Disability and Community
2853 East 10th Street, Indiana University
Bloomington, IN 47408-2696
(812) 855-6508; (812) 855-9396 (TTY)
Web: www.iidc.indiana.edu/~irca
National Institute of Mental Health
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 7C-02
Rockville, Maryland 20857
(301) 443-4513
National Institute of Child Health
and Human Development
Building 31, Room 2A32
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-2350
(301) 496-5133
Autism Society of America
7910 Woodmont Avenue
Suite #650
Bethesda, Maryland 20814
(301) 657-0881
(800) 3AUTISM
Autism Research Institute
4182 Adams Avenue
San Diego, California 92116
(619) 281-7165
The New Jersey Center for
Outreach and
Services for the Autism Community, Inc. (COSAC)
1450 Parkside Avenue, Suite 22
Ewing, New Jersey 08638
(609) 883-8100
(800) 4-AUTISM (-288476)
National Autism Hotline
C/O Autism Services Center
P.O. Box 507
605 Ninth Street
Prichard Building
Huntington, West Virginia 25710-0507
(304) 525-8014
National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. (NORD)
P.O. Box 8923
New Fairfield, Connecticut 06812-8923
(203) 746-6518
(800) 999-6673
Prepared by
Office of Scientific and Health Reports
National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-2540
NIH Publication No. 96-1877
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892
