Childhood Disintegrative Disorder

Childhood disintegrative disorder is a condition where children have a completely normal development until around the ages of 2 to 4, and then seem to demonstrate or experience a dramatic increase in the loss of communication, social, and other skill sets that they may have acquired.  Whether the other skills include items such as language, motor skills, or non-verbal communication vary from child to child.  Unfortunately those scientists researching childhood disintegrative disorder have yet to determine the cause of the disorder.

Childhood disintegrative disorder is very similar to autism; many doctors say childhood disintegrative disorder is a less detrimental form of autism.  Once the child has started a normal growth, the noticeable side effects of childhood disintegrative disorder can be seen between the ages of 4-10, where the regression is suddenly much stronger.  In some cases the symptoms of childhood disintegrative disorder have been so severe even the child begins to voice concern over what is happening.  This is most scary for the child, as the aggressive regression is confusing and often times leads to a more hostile child at times.

There are various signs and symptoms to watch out for in way of childhood disintegrative disorder.  The normal growth happens up until the age of approximately two years of age, and then continues to progress up until the age of ten.  Each and every skill the child has acquired may be lessened or completely lost all together.  There are six distinct functional areas where the child will lose such skills.  The skills they lose are as follows expressive language skills (basically being able to produce a speech and communicate a message), receptive language skills (the understanding of language understanding and listening what is communicated), social skills and self-care skills, the control over bowel and bladder, play skills, and motor skills. The lack of normal function or deterioration also occurs in at least in one of these two areas Social interaction, communication, and repetitive behavior and interest patterns.

The causes of childhood disintegrative disorder are still unknown, childhood disintegrative disorder surfaces from within days or weeks while in other cases it matures over a longer period of time. A Clinic report specifies that: “Comprehensive medical and neurological examinations in children diagnosed with childhood disintegrative disorder occasionally uncovers a fundamental medical or neurological cause. Although the happening of epilepsy is higher in children with childhood disintegrative disorder, experts don’t know if epilepsy plays a major role in the causing of the disorder. Childhood disintegrative disorder is linked to other conditions such as lipid storage, subacute sclerosing panecepphaliyis , tuberus sclerosis. Although the causes are unknown childhood disintegrative disorder is very well linked to other conditions.

There is no treatment for childhood disintegrative disorder. The loss of language and skills related to social interaction and self-care stand rather severe. The affected children face long-lasting disabilities in definite areas and are required to be in long term care. Treatment of Childhood Disintegrative Disorder includes both behavior therapy and medications.

Watching for the symptoms for childhood disintegrative disorder can beneficial to both the child and the parent  to try and help and get treatment for this horrible disease.