The Five Types Of Autism Outlined
Michalis 'BIG Mike' Kotzakolios


Defined Tag: Types Of Autism.

There are five Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDDs) which, collectively, are often considered to be types of Autism but which are really distinct neuro developmental disorders which are each under the ‘Spectrum’ of Autism. These are Autism or Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome, Rett’s Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDDNOS). These five disorders are classified as being pervasive, in contrast to Specific Developmental Disorders (SDDs), since they are characterised by delay in the development of many basic human functions such as socialisation and communication.

There follows a short introduction to the five main types of Disorder:

Autism, known as Classic Autism, Autistic Disorder, or Kanner’s Syndrome, was originally named and described by the Psychiatrist Leo Kanner from the John Hopkins University. His studies were based upon eleven of his child patients, during a period from 1932 to 1943, who had the common features of: lack of emotional contact with others, need for repetitive routines, speech abnormalities, a fascination with manipulating objects, learning difficulties accompanied by a high level of visio-spatial skills, the appearance of intelligence and alertness. These studies became the basis of all future understanding of this disorder.

Asperger’s Syndrome, or Disorder, is named after the studies of Hans Asperger, in Vienna, in 1944. While there are similarities with Autism in that sufferers have impaired socialisation skills and desire repetitive patterns in their life; they don’t share the other learning disabilities in language and cognition. Often, those with Asperger’s will have an exceptional skill or talent which occupies them and many remarkable people, such as Einstein, have later been diagnosed with this disorder.

Rett’s Syndrome, or Disorder, was identified by Dr Andreas Rett, in Australia in 1965. It is a neuro developmental degenerative disorder which only affects girls causing them to become disabled and dependent upon others with behavioural similarities to Autism; but with the addition of growth deformities such as muscle loss, and small hands and feet.

The disorder called Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD), or Heller’s Syndrome named after the Austrian teacher Theodore Heller who first described it in 1908, is characterised by a seeming regression of skills by children after the age of two or three. It is similar to Autism but, instead, follows a normal development and is characterised by loss of skills.

The term Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, or PDDNOS, is a ‘catchall’ term to refer to those who suffer disorders which aren’t specifically one or other of the four outlined above. Often this is a class of far milder symptoms, and types of autism, which tends to be emphasised by difficulties with socialisation.

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