Childhood disintegrative disorder or CDD is a rare condition. According to the 5th Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, this disorder is merged into a specific disorder called autistic spectrum disorder.
The onset of this disorder is relatively late. It can also cause regression of the skills that are previously acquired in motor functioning and language. CDD also disrupts the social relationships of the individual who experiences it.
Symptoms
Children affected with CDD show losses of acquired skills in following of the two conditions that are clinically significant.
- Play skills
- Expressive language skills
- Motor skills
- Bowel or bladder management
- Social skills
- Self-care skills
- Receptive language skills
Alterations occur between the age of three to four years. But generally, a child may experience changes before the age of ten years. The onset of this disorder may be gradual or abrupt. Children may notice the severity and changes in them.
They may also ask what they are experiencing. Professionals and parents usually do not notice abnormalities in verbal and non-verbal communication, adaptive behavior, social relationships, emotional development, and play.
Causes
Researchers do not know the exact cause of CDD. They suspect that genes that are involved in the central nervous system development can be associated with this disorder. It is also associated with certain other disorders such as immune response and lipid storage abnormalities.
Children’s prognosis with the condition of childhood disintegrative disorder is poor. Many individuals suffer from permanent and severe intellectual disabilities. There are various types of treatment available for CDD.
Treatments help to improve language skills, behavior, and communication. Research reported that prenatal environmental stress can also be a predictor for CDD. The reason is that it results in greater deposition of amyloid than normal in the brain.
Disruption of synaptic transmission is also involved in causing CDD in children. This disorder can occur with certain other conditions that are:
- Lipid storage disease
- Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis
- Tuberous Sclerosis
It is not confirmed whether these conditions trigger the symptoms of CDD or share the environmental or genetic risk factors.
Risk Factors
Following are the risk factors that play a greater role in causing the childhood disintegrative disorder.
Environmental Factors
If your child is exposed to toxins then he may develop CDD. Birth trauma is also a risk factor for developing this disorder. Other environmental factors that cause CDD are viral exposure, teratogenicity, and premature birth.
Genetic Factors
Genetic factors play an important role in causing the condition of childhood disintegrative disorder. If you have a family history of Asperger syndrome or autism then your child is at greater risk of developing these disorders.
Having a family history of Rolandic epilepsy is also a risk factor to develop the symptoms of CDD. Other risk factors are disruptions or breakdown of chromosomes.
CDD is associated with speech disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and developmental coordination disorders. Other disorders that are associated with CDD are allergies, insomnia, autoimmune disorders, and gastrointestinal disorders.
Children with CDD have some behavioral, social, and communicative features that are similar to autism. Additional traits are repetitive and restricted stereotyped behavior patterns and activities.
The major difference between autism and CDD is that children with autism do not lose previously acquired skills while children while others lose these skills. The lost skills include toilet training and the ability to perform activities or skills that are complex.
These complex skills include pedaling and drawing shapes. Children with childhood disintegrative disorder face problems with motor function that cause poor coordination in them. They may also experience awkward guilt with this condition.
If you notice the symptoms of CDD or autism in your child then contact a doctor as soon as possible. Keep track of the symptoms of your child and discuss his or her condition with the doctor. Notice changes in your children on a daily basis.
It helps the doctors to plan effective treatment for your child. Do not leave the condition of CDD or autism untreated because it can lead to serious consequences. If you notice good changes in your child after treatment then do not leave the treatment in half too.
There are chances that your child may develop this condition again. It is important to take complete treatment to cope with mental health conditions. Provide emotional support to your children and help them to cope with the symptoms of CDD or any other mental health condition.
