Can you have PDD-NOS and not be on the autism spectrum?

In short no.



PDD-NOS is on the autism spectrum, it is NOT classic autism, but it is still an ASD- Autism Spectrum Disorder.



Long answer-



Your son might end up with a provisional diagnoses of PDD-NOS- meaning they will diagnose him with that, but then later might drop it. Its very difficult especially at a young age to properly diagnose a child if they have classic autism, or Aspbergers, or a general developmental problem. It can take years for them to know for sure what your son has- but it doesn't change what type of help he is going to need, however for most state/school programs as well as insurance cases, they need some form of diagnoses to pay for speech/occupational therapy whatever they determine he needs. Because the treatment plan decided on will be individual to your son, it doesn't really matter what "label" he has as long as he is getting the help he needs.



The name PDD-NOS literally means- Pervasive Developmental Disorder- Not Otherwise Specified, meaning they just don't have enough data to decided how to specify it. While he has the diagnoses of PDD-NOS he is considered to be on the autism spectrum- however in time they may decided it was a general delay and he won't be considered on the spectrum anymore.



Right now, my son, has just gone through a bunch of tests, and has a couple more lined up in the fall. He has PDD-NOS, but they feel he will end up being either classic autism or Asbergers, or even OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) but right now he shows signs of all three, so they aren't sure which he has. His neurologist describes it this way- when a plant is very small, sometimes you aren't sure what type of flower is going to grow on it, however once it blooms it is obvious what kind of plant it was- but it doesn't change that it is a plant. Meaning my son has something, we aren't sure what, but it doesn't change the fact he has something. The main concern is how do you help him get better.Can you have PDD-NOS and not be on the autism spectrum?
My four year old son just went through the same line of testing, and it is a long process. They said he has PDD-NOS b/c he did not enough symptoms to call it autism. He has a severe speech and cognitive delay, along with problems with his motor skills. He constantly repeats the same things over and over again like an autistic child, but the doctors felt he has the ability to learn at a higher level. I have read alot of articles and I feel his symptoms are almost exactly in line with autism and some of the same treatments have helped. You know your child best, so take what the doctors says and add with your own intuition and your child will be fine.Can you have PDD-NOS and not be on the autism spectrum?
my son has PDD-NOS. basically PDD is on the autism spectrum. it means that the person has multiple delays, but not enough in the right categories to be diagnosed with autism, or asbergers.



My son was a late talker, he had some sensory issues, he is over sensitive, he can be very violent when he feels threatened, he has an oral fixation, horrible grip and writing skills, talks too much, is very literal, bad short term memory, and tend to do socially inappropriate things like pick his nose then suck on his fingers. we just thought he was quirky until he was 11 years old and got violent at school.Can you have PDD-NOS and not be on the autism spectrum?
No. My son had PDD NOS, and its considered to be on the autism spectrum.



That said - PDD NOS is a very very broad and vague diagnosis. As you probably know already, it means pervasive developmental delays - ie, delays in multiple areas of development. THey usually give this diagnosis to young kids. And no 2 kids with PDD NOS are remotely alike.



As I stated - my son had PDD NOS, was diagnosed at age 2. He just turned five and they actually took away the diagnosis. At this point his social skills and play skills were too great to be on the autism spectrum. They've changed his diagnosis to a speech and language disorder (his speech is still a problem - he has an auditory processing disorder, etc.).



So I wouldn't get too hung up on the fact that PDD NOS falls on the autism spectrum. The autism spectrum itself is very broad and includes diagnoses like ADHD all the way to full blown autism. It doesn't mean your son will end up classically autistic by any means.



I wish you the best of luck!!
pdd is not autism i have pdd and my brother has autisum we are different in most ways but when he gets to be my age he will still have problems me i am 24 and living on my own with a 2 year old boy and another on the way i wouldnt worry to much