Pervasive Developmental Disorders in Preschool Children

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Abstract
Autism is a severe developmental disorder involving deviance and often delay in the development of language or communication skills; social interactions and reciprocity; and imagination, play, and interests.1 Since the first epidemiological survey of autism was conducted in the mid 1960s in England,2 more than 30 surveys have been performed worldwide.3,4 Rates of autism typically have been reported in the range of 4 to 6 per 10 000 although these figures increased in surveys conducted in the last 15 years.4,5 These estimates do not account for a large group of children falling short of strict diagnostic criteria for autism (pervasive developmental disorders [PDDs]) and whose development poses similar assessment and educational challenges.

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