What is PDD?

Pervasive Developmental Disorders are marked by delays in developmental areas (sometimes in conjunction with mental retardation)

What causes PDD?

There is no identified cause for PDD, thus no strategies for prevention.

What are the 5 types of PDD?

1. AUTISM

More common in males

Must have documented features in 3 areas

1.   6 or more impairments in social interaction (poor eye contact, lack of responsiveness, inability to establish relationships) or communication (no formal language system, echolalia, use of gibberish)

2.   Stereotypical behavior (body rocking, hand flapping, finger movements, or fascination with objects or object parts)

3.   Delayed onset before 3 years

2. ASPERGER’S SYNDROME

More common in males

      Diagnosed by 6 criteria

1. Qualitative impairment in 2 of the following:

2. Stereotypical behavior in 1 of the following:

3. Clinical impairment in social, occupational, or vocational area

4. No clinically significant delay in language

5. No clinically significant delay in cognition, self-help, adaptive skills, or curiosity of environment

6. Does not meet criteria for schizophrenia

3. CHILDHOOD DISINTEGRATIVE DISORDER

More common in males

·        Exhibit delays in social interaction, communication, and stereotypical behavior.

·        Normal  development from birth to 2 years

·        Between 2 and 10 years, regression in 2 of the following

·        Does not meet criteria for schizophrenia

4. RETT’S SYNDROME

Found only in females

·        Normal development from birth to 5 months

·        Between 5 months and 48 months loss of

5. PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER- NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIED  

    (PDD-NOS)

 

What is “challenging behavior”?

Behavior that results in self-injury or injury to others, causes damage to the physical environment, interferes with the acquisition of new skills (such as tantrums), and/or socially isolates the child.

 

What can I do in my classroom?

ESTABLISH A MEANS OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION (AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION)

·        Peer modeling and teacher reframing

·        Picture wallets/topic rings

·        Communication boards

·        Voice output communication aids/ BIGMack

STRUCTURE AND PREDICTABLE ROUTINES

·        Picture and word charts (Autism)

·        Assign a certain role during unstructured activities (Asperger’s)

·        Establish routines early

·        Communicate transitions clearly

CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT

·        Noise, lighting, and temperature

COMMUNICATION WITH FAMILIES IS ESSENTIAL

 

What is  Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA)?

1. Indirect Assessments (Interviews and rating scales)

2. Direct Assessments (Observe and document)

3. Functional Analysis (Manipulate one variable)

 

What are Positive Behavioral Supports?

Practical interventions that are based on FBA

·        Proactive rather than reactive

·        Focus on teaching new skills

·        Behavior should be observed across environments/contexts, durable, and result in improvement