The term "pervasive developmental disorders," also called PDDs, refers to a group of conditions that involve delays in the development of many basic skills. Most notable among them are the ability to socialize with others, to communicate, and to use imagination. Children with these conditions often are confused in their thinking and generally have problems understanding the world around them.

Symptoms

General symptoms that may be present to some degree in a child with a PDD include:

• Difficulty with verbal communication, including problems using and understanding language and also difficulty with non-verbal communication, such as gestures and facial expressions.
• Difficulty with social interaction, including relating to people and to his or her surroundings.
• Unusual ways of playing with toys and other objects.
• Difficulty adjusting to changes in routine or familiar surroundings
• Repetitive body movements or patterns of behavior, such as hand flapping, spinning and, head banging.
• Changing response to sound. (The child may be very sensitive to some noises and seem to not hear others.)
• Temper tantrums
• Difficulty sleeping
• Aggressive behavior
• Fearfulness or anxiety (nervousness)