Pervasive developmental disorder – not otherwise specified (PDD–NOS)

What a diagnosis of PDD–NOS means
To be diagnosed with autism or Asperger’s disorder, a child must have a certain number of characteristics relating to their social and communication skills, and also show some repetitive behaviour. When a child has only some of these characteristics, they might be diagnosed with PDD–NOS.

A diagnosis of PDD-NOS still means children will need support and early intervention services. Sometimes a PDD–NOS diagnosis is followed by an autism diagnosis a few years later. This possibility of a ‘temporary diagnosis’ of PDD–NOS, though not always the case, is a good reason to explore options for services and interventions.

PDD–NOS: Common characteristics

Like children with autism or Asperger’s disorder, children with PDD–NOS will find social interaction hard, or show repetitive behaviours. Although these difficulties are noted, social skills are generally less impaired than with autism or Asperger’s disorder.

Read more about characteristics of children with ASD.

What to do next

If you’re concerned about your child’s development, or already have a PDD–NOS diagnosis, the important thing is to get help and support as soon as possible. The sooner children receive intervention services, the more effective these services can be in fostering positive outcomes.

Here are some ideas to help you get started:

• Find out more about diagnosis and the professionals you’ll need to see.
• Read about common therapies and interventions in our Parent Guide to Therapies.
• Use our Autism Services Pathfinder to learn how to navigate the service system.
• Visit our forum to share stories and advice with other parents of a child with ASD.
• Join an Early Days group in your area to learn more about ASD and early intervention options.

Video: Finding and starting early intervention for ASD

In this short video, parents talk about finding and starting early intervention for their children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). They share their experiences with interventions and tests.

As they note, there are many excellent resources and interventions available, but it’s important to choose interventions based on scientific evidence that work for your child.

 

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