Communication and Pervasive Developmental Delay PDD

28. December 2008 by admin.

Pervasive Developmental Delay otherwise known as PDD is such a large umbrella description.  Ask any one person with a loved one or friend that falls in the PDD category and you will get a definitive description based on the person they know with PDD – but ask someone else the same question and their description could be completely different based on their knowledge of PDD.  According to http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/pdd/pdd.htm the following is a definition of PDD:

 “The diagnostic category of pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) refers to a group of disorders characterized by delays in the development of socialization and communication skills. Parents may note symptoms as early as infancy, although the typical age of onset is before 3 years of age. Symptoms may include problems with using and understanding language; difficulty relating to people, objects, and events; unusual play with toys and other objects; difficulty with changes in routine or familiar surroundings, and repetitive body movements or behavior patterns. Autism (a developmental brain disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication skills, and a limited range of activities and interests) is the most characteristic and best studied PDD. Other types of PDD include Asperger’s Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and Rett’s Syndrome. Children with PDD vary widely in abilities, intelligence, and behaviors. Some children do not speak at all, others speak in limited phrases or conversations, and some have relatively normal language development. Repetitive play skills and limited social skills are generally evident. Unusual responses to sensory information, such as loud noises and lights, are also common.” 

Reading this particular definition does give a broad range explanation of PDD but true understanding does not come with reading and research.  True understanding of Pervasive Developmental Delay comes with living and working with individuals that fall into this category of challenges.  Many of you already know that an individual identified with PDD usually has more than one identifier.  The ‘Development’ part of PDD implies delays can occur on all aspects of life for that individual.

Communication is a large part of PDD.  Whether the communication is lack of verbal abilities or the inability to understand clearly the meaning of what is being said, it is a very large part of the work family, friends and therapists deal with on a daily basis.  Optional tools for working with PDD and communication include sign language, picture to word and technology based units and software.  As you read this there are probably dozens of other possibilities being tested and created to help assist with overcoming the obstacles that individuals with communication concerns have to live with daily.

A very common (and less expensive) tool is the picture to word practice that has been found to be very successful in a very structured environment.  Some of the known sets are PECS or even PEWE, which is the most affordable and included with Peanut Butter Crunch. 

The use of a picture exchange to word-based program has been successfully illustrated to encourage communication with the very typical but young child too.  In a mentoring based preschool classroom, the use of a picture exchange word exchange program, encourages the structure that any educational program needs and fulfills the visual stimulation that many with PDD require.  Picture Exchange Word Exchange – PEWE – has been useful in home environments as well. 

In the less structured home element it is easier to create several books / boards for communication.  Examples would be the use of a breakfast food board or a dinner food board instead of a pack of pieces that represents the entire food list of that home.  Use a bathroom board for checking off the process of bathing, toileting or even washing hands.  These are only a few of the options that can be utilized in the home as well as a daycare or school environment. 

The creation of picture boards is very simple if you do not have an economically / budget friendly resource like Peanut Butter Crunch to fulfill those needs.  Use a piece of cardstock paper and type or write clearly the purpose of the card on the paper.  Draw boxes to indicate where the pictures will be placed when needed.  Write the words that would represent the action of the box next to the space.  Pictures can be garnered from many sources including private snapshots of the person / home, clipart packs and royalty free Internet photos.  Lamination of all pieces is highly recommended but not required.  When the boards and photos have been completed it is also recommended to use hook and loop style tape on the backs of the photos and in the boxes on the finished boards.

Another favored technique is sign language.  Sign language is beneficial to all with any form of communication delays or challenges.  The use of sign language and its success has been well documented for being successful on many levels.  Students with fine / gross motor concerns and communication delays have been known to alter, on their own, a sign to conform to their abilities.  When this occurs the people around the student must be aware of the alteration (recognize the slight changes in the use of the sign).  Many would refer to this as a type of ‘slang’ if it were to be done with a spoken language.  The overall use of sign language has grown not just with the use with communication impairment but academically too.  Sign Language has now been recognized in many schools / universities as an option to spoken foreign language credits.

As you can tell, I could go on and on about this topic …. It is near and dear to my heart.  For now I will finish with a favorite line …. That applies to all – those with the identifier of PDD and those that work with them (and live with them) ….. Where there is a Will – there is always a Way.

 Until next time …. Have a Great Day!

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