Autism spectrum disorder - childhood disintegrative disorder

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Autism spectrum disorder - childhood disintegrative disorder

Definition

Childhood disintegrative disorder is a condition in which children develop normally through about age 3. Then, over a few months, they lose language, motor, social, and other skills that they already learned.

Childhood disintegrative disorder is a part of the larger developmental disorder category of autism spectrum disorder.

References

Bang JY, Feldman HM. Language development and communication disorders. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 53.

Bridgemohan CF, Weitzman CC. Autism spectrum disorder. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 58.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). www.cdc.gov/autism/index.html. Updated April 15, 2025. Accessed April 21, 2025.

Chaves-Gnecco D, Feldman HM. Developmental/behavioral pediatrics. In: Zitelli BJ, McIntire SC, Nowalk AJ, Garrison J, eds. Zitelli and Davis' Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 3.

Sidhu R, O'Banion D, Hall C. Autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 90.

Review Date: 4/6/2025
Reviewed By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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