Pervasive Developmental Disorder

According to an article on WebMD website, Pervasive Developmental Disorders also known as PDDs, is referring 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. You can find the article here.

According to Brayden's therapist that helps him, PDDs is what they call an umbrella diagnosis.  Because under PDD falls the following categories; Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, Childhood disintegrative disorder, Rett Syndrome, and Pervasive development disorder, not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS).  Which if I am remembering correctly the PDD-NOS is what Brayden's pediatrician diagnosed him with because if you go back to the article on WebMD and read the description for Asperger's, Brayden falls under that category. However, things in the Autisic Spectrum have changed tremendously over the years and according to the Autism Center Therapist we seen on November 7th, there are no longer any subcategories. Which to me is confusing because the whole point we wanted him diagnosed through the Autism center was we were under the impression they would be able to clarify exactly where he fell on the spectrum. I mean to his school therapist (which is also his weekly visit therapist) and his pediatrician they have both stated in all the years of doing therapy and being doctor that Brayden has Asperger's.  That in a sense makes me happy because that is as parents what we want.  We wanted to know exactly where on the spectrum he fell, therefor we could get him the adequate therapy he needed. I mean honestly know he is getting adequate therapy. I will explain furthermore in another post about what therapy he is in.

Since Brayden now is seeing two therapist and possibly a counselor soon (still not sure why on that one because his behavior in a sense is normal to us. No bad behavior really) but I will call the first therapist, school therapist, and the new one Autistic Therapist.  You may question why I don't just say there names but then again if you put your brain to use you'd know I am trying to save the privacy of my children.

Questions from the Autistic therapist,  What made us decide to have him seen at the Autism Center? She then stated was it because his school therapist, school officials, and pediatrician told you too and you just went with it.

The answer to that is yes and no, Yes because treating the type of Autism Brayden has or has been stated that he has if treated early on in life. He can function as a normal child, teenager, and man with guidance. I hate using the word normal but the way I explained it to Ken when we were riding around for our five year anniversary. That from an early age as parents and when he came into the picture we knew there was something there. We knew there was some type of "illness is what its refer too". Therefor like school therapist stated hes young enough that he's like putty. He can absorb and be molded.

The No part of that answer is because when Brayden was a baby infant size, our pediatrician and their pediatrics office have always went over the "Autism Checklist", if I can find similar questions that I was asked I will give y'all examples. However, almost all the questions except maybe 2 Brayden fit. I was always told by his peds doctor that he was just a self dependent baby.  Then when I go with Ken over five years ago now.  Shortly after being together he mentioned to me about Brayden doing things just like a family member of his. Then  six months into our relationship we moved in together and he voiced his opinion again. I kept going back to what the pediatrician stated about his independence. Then when I worked in home health I believe by the grace of God to show me the light of things, I was placed with an Autistic Girl. The more time I spent with her the more I began thinking back to Brayden's infancy to at that point now.  That was also the year he was in Pre-K and the teacher noticed it even after you know we spoke our concerns with her about Brayden because we knew if anything would alter his capability to learning we wanted o get him help. Kindergarten was good. Then we made it to first grade. That's when things began to change.  Click here to go to the post about Brayden's Unfinished Diagnosis, it goes into more depth.  

Below are some signs of Pervasive Developmental Disordered that I found on WebMD. Here is where you can find them on WebMD.

1. Difficulty with verbal communication, including problems using and understanding language
2. Difficulty with non-verbal communication, such as gestures and facial expressions
3. Difficulty with social interaction, including relating to people and to his or her surroundings
4. Unusual ways of playing with toys and other objects
5. Difficulty adjusting to changes in routine or familiar surroundings
6. Repetitive body movements or patterns of behavior, such as hand flapping, spinning, and head banging
7. Changing response to sound; the child may be very sensitive to some noises and seem to not hear others.
8. Temper tantrums
9. Difficulty sleeping
10. Aggressive behavior
11. Fearfulness or anxiety

These are signs of someone who may be experiencing Pervasive Developmental Disorder. 

Again, if you like to read the whole article on WebMd, please go to this page.

Another good website to go to learn more about autism, is www.autismspeaks.org

Also when explain above about Brayden's pediatrician diagnosing him with PDD-NOS, here is a good article about that as well.  

Thank You so much for your interest about Autism and PDD. 
I am a beginner in all of this and learning new things as we go along. If you have any advice or just words of wisdom. Please comment below. Or you may email me at eichhorstdiedra@gmail.com

Sincerely Grateful, 

Diedra

Still feel lost....

Today was Brayden's interview with the local Autism Center.

In case you are nee and may not know exactly what has went on. Let me start out by explaining a brief summary as to  why we have ended up at the Autism Center.

       The most simplest answer of all is that Brayden has always had, have showed, and still shows signs of Autism. He has done this since he was a baby. I was always steered to believe he was a self dependent child at 6 months old.  If course I noticed it but never have been around a child or person that had autism. I had no clue anything about it. Once I got with Ken five years ago. From early on in our relationship he stated he showed signs of Aspergers. That he done similar if not the same things a family member of his does that has been diagnosed with Aspergers. (According to the lady today well that no longer exist.) From Pre- K to 1st grade the began to become more prominent and by the 1st grade we knew there was something. Because he wouldn't do his school work at school and it was a battle to even get him to attempted or even finish it at home. The pediatrician then diagnosed him with ADHD & PDD  (in more depth blog coming soon, because well it's 1:28 am dog tired but can't sleep. So why not get up and smoke right?)

        Anyways there's just a small summary or large summary of what has lead up to the interview from the Autism Center. 

      The appointment in which we have been on a waiting list now for over a year almost a year and half from the initial time we contacted the place.  Our appointment was at 1:30 p.m . and we were out of there by 3 pm. She talked to Brayden a lot but a lot of the focus was geared toward what I could remember. When did I started noticing things and such?  Therefor, the only answer she could really give me is that Autism is NO longer broken up. PDD no longer exist. Asperger's no longer exist. However, I feel that it may very on who you see. Because his pediatrician diagnosed him with PDD. Therefor, I am still lost, I still feel lost and confused if not more than before I went in there. The only thing she could quarentee me right now is that she isn't sure exactly what he has. She believes there is a chance that he is on the spectrum and if he is for sure on the spectrum. Which that confused me considering the sub titles, no longer exist. She kept stating she doesn't know exactly where on the spectrum he is. 

Anyhoo, he does have another appointment coming up in the next couple of weeks.  This appointment is suppose to be a 3 hour window of an appointment. But his IEP for school changed in May at the ending of the school year. Therefor, some of the testing that the Autism Center does, the school does as well, meaning there's a chance the appointment wont be nearly three hours.

Thanks for taking the time out to hear about my baby! :)

Love Always,

Diedra