Guest Author - Susan Kramer
Childhood disintegrative disorder, also called CDD, is one of the pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) and a rare condition. PDD are categorized as neurological disorders.
Children with CDD seem to develop normally the first couple of years, but by age 3 or 4 there is a permanent deterioration in both expressive and receptive verbal skills, loss of toilet training skills, motor skills and social withdrawal - not relating with peers. Speaking may become non-existent or reduced to one-word responses.
Though the cause is currently unknown it has been associated with seizure disorders and shows up on an EEG. It appears to be from some defect in the developing nervous system, and it is more common in males.
CDD has been mistaken for autism, which it resembles. But where there may be improvement with autism, the regression in CDD seems to be permanent and supportive care needs to be ongoing.
Parents, may I remind you to get the support you need to maintain your peace of mind and bodily health, to best take care of all your family!
Resource
Yale Child Study Center - Developmental Disabilities Clinic
Paper on criteria and clinical features, history, course and prognosis, etiology/cause, epidemiology and case illustration.
For offline reading
Free to Move, Learning Kinesthetically - Comprehensive guide to teaching kinesthetically in a 90 page fully illustrated text, outlining body placement, rhythms, large motor skills, dynamics, creative movement, mini-lessons, and detailed master lesson plan for elementary school kids. Available here at BellaOnline as an Ebook
Article by Susan Kramer
About the article author
Susan Kramer has been a dance specialist to students of all ages and abilities for more than 30 years, and maintains a large bank of articles for teaching at the Kinesthetic link at susankramer.com
