Symptoms:

• Delay or lack of spoken language
• Impairment in nonverbal behaviors
• Inability to start or maintain a conversation
• Lack of play
• Loss of bowel and bladder control
• Loss of language or communication skills
• Loss of motor skills
• Loss of social skills
• Problems forming relationships with other children and family members

Signs and tests:

The health care provider will determine whether the child has this disorder, or a similar condition such as childhood schizophrenia or pervasive developmental disorder (autism).

The most important sign of childhood disintegrative disorder is the loss of developmental milestones. Generally, the diagnosis is made if the child has lost function in at least two areas of development.