<unk>  is an old diagnostic category. It is not included as an option for an Autism Spectrum<unk>  and is not part of the DSM-5, but is included in the ICD-10, as either "atypical autism" or<unk>  developmental<unk> , unspecified". The diagnosis of a<unk>  is given to individuals with difficulties in the areas of social interaction, communication, and/or stereotypic behavior patterns or interests, but who do not meet the full DSM-4 criteria for autism or another PDD. This does not necessarily mean that<unk>  is a milder disability than the other PDDs. It only means that individuals who receive this diagnosis do not meet the diagnostic criteria of the other PDDs, but that there is still a<unk>  developmental<unk>  that affects the individual in the areas of communication, socialization, and behavior. As for the other<unk>  developmental<unk> s, the diagnosis of<unk>  requires the involvement of a team of specialists. The individual needs to undergo a full diagnostic evaluation, including a thorough medical, social, adaptive, motor skills and communication history. Other parts of an assessment can be behavioral rating scales, direct behavioral observations, psychological assessment, educational assessment, communication assessment, and occupational assessment. Description of<unk>  merely as a "subthreshold" category without a more specific case definition poses methodological problems for research regarding the relatively heterogeneous group of people who receive this diagnosis. While it's true that children diagnosed with<unk> , as a whole, show fewer intellectual deficits and are higher-functioning than autistic children, many others who fit the criteria for<unk>  have some autistic features but also have intellectual deficits that are so severe that it's difficult or impossible to tell whether some of the deficits come from the autism or from the severe to profound degree of intellectual disability itself. Furthermore, some others who fit the criteria for<unk>  come to professional attention at a later age, compared to those diagnosed with autism. Subgroups Studies suggest that persons with<unk>  belong to one of three very different subgroups: * A high-functioning group (around 25 percent) whose symptoms more or less overlap with that of Asperger syndrome, while also not meeting the criteria for autistic<unk> , but who completely differ from those with Asperger syndrome in terms of having a lag in language development and/or mild cognitive impairment. (The criteria for Asperger syndrome excludes a speech delay or a cognitive delay in early life.) * Another group (around 25 percent) whose symptoms more closely resemble those of autistic<unk> , but do not fully meet all its diagnostic signs and symptoms. This is because either the symptoms were recognized at a later age or because they were too young or have cognitive deficits that are too severe to properly identify all the symptoms of autism that they may have. * The biggest group (around 50 percent) consists of those who meet all the diagnostic criteria for autistic<unk>  but whose stereotypical and repetitive behaviors are noticeably mild.
Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified
Multiple complex developmental disorder
Zellweger spectrum disorders
Zellweger syndrome
Asperger syndrome
Childhood schizophrenia
Childhood disintegrative disorder
Tardive dysmentia