pervasive developmental disorder

[per-vey-siv di-vel-uhp-muhn-tl dis-awr-der]

noun

1. autism spectrum disorder. PDD

pervasive developmental disorder

1. Any of several developmental disorders, such as autism or Asperger's syndrome, characterized by severe deficits in social interaction and communication or by the presence of repetitive, stereotyped behaviors. Most of these disorders are evident in the first years of life.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pervasive developmental disorder¹

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

Then in 2013, the fifth edition of the DSM took what had previously been four separate conditions — autistic disorder, Asperger’s disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder and pervasive developmental disorder — and collapsed them all into a single diagnosis: autism spectrum disorder.

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When the American Psychiatric Association changed the criteria between the DSM-4 and the DSM-5, it broadened the definition for ASD to incorporate previously separate diagnoses such as Asperger’s syndrome, Rett syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified, or PDD-NOS, under one umbrella.

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Soon after, doctors diagnosed Miwa with Pervasive Developmental Disorder, characterized by delays in socialization skills.

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For example, Rett syndrome is an X-linked pervasive developmental disorder characterized by a spectrum of disabilities including abnormal behavior, speech and motor function.

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The DSM-III, published in 1980, established autism as its own separate diagnosis and described it as a “pervasive developmental disorder” distinct from schizophrenia.

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