Welcome to our 2ND Newsletter! "Warning Signs and Behaviors of Childhood Disorders, Part II: Rett's and Disintegrative Disorders"   How could I know the difference between a warning sign and an appropriate behavior? answer: Know the warning signs. II-A.Warning Signs and Behaviors:     Rett's Disorder Typically following a short period of normal development: decrease in head growth from 5 to 48 months of age loss of previously acquired, purposeful hand skills   from 5 to 30 months with subsequent development   of stereotyped hand movements (ex: hand-wringing,   washing) loss of engaging in social interaction early in course   (despite social interaction often developing later) appearance of poorly coordinated gait or trunk movements severely impaired expressive and receptive language   development with severe psychomotor retardation Rett's Disorder is significant for multiple-specific deficits following a period of normal development and functioning after birth. II-A.Warning Signs and Behaviors:     Disintegrative Disorder Typically following at least a 2 year period of normal development: significant loss of previously learned skills   (before 10 years old) in at least 2 of the following:   expressive or receptive language, social skills or   adaptive behavior, bowel or bladder control, play,   motor skills impaired social interaction: nonverbal communication,   failure to develop peer relationships, lack of social or   emotional expression/reciprocity impaired communication: delay in spoken language,   inability to initiate or sustain conversation, stereotyped   and repetitive use of language, lack of   varied make believe play restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of   behavior, interests and intivities, including motor   stereotypes and mannerisms Childhood Disintegrative Disorder is significant of regression in multiple areas of functioning following at least a 2 year period of apparently normal development.     I hope this article was informative and a valuable contribution to assist with monitoring the development of children. ~ Michael Gonsalves Last Newsletter: Warning Signs and Behaviors, Part I: Autism Next Newsletter: Warning Signs and Behaviors, Part III: Asperger's Disorder Futher Reading: When Autism Strikes: Families Cope with Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, by Robert A. Catalano/ $13.97 Note: The above list provided is not intended for the use of diagnosing disorders. Disorders are diagnosed by the severity, frequency and a combination of many factors. Please seek professional advice should any of the above listed criteria cause any concern. |