Children with CDD can experience a loss of expressive and receptive language skills, social and self-care skills, play skills, and/or motor skills. Regression commonly occurs at around 3 or 4 years old, but after at least two years of normal development and before age 10. Rett Syndrome
Rett syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a genetic mutation. It occurs almost exclusively in girls. A child with Rett syndrome experiences a loss of previously had intentional hand skills, and can experience a loss of language skills. Children can also experience a loss of social skills and autism-like symptoms. The regression typically occurs between 1–4 years of age. Landau-Kleffner Syndrome
Landau-Kleffner syndrome is a form of epilepsy associated with a loss of language skills. Those with LKS lose their ability to understand spoken language and to verbally express themselves. LKS typically has an onset of between the ages of 2 and 8 years old. Neuro-degenerative diseases
Neuro-degenerative diseases (disorders like Batten disease) can result in a child losing previously acquired motor, language, and speech skills. Signs and symptoms
Children with developmental regression lose developmental milestones they have previously gained. These can be motor, social, or language skills. The loss of motor skills could include loss of the ability to purposefully use hands, loss of the ability to feed oneself, loss of the ability to walk, loss of the ability to bathe oneself, and loss of the ability to dress oneself.
The loss of social skills could include loss of the ability/desire to play, loss of the ability to make appropriate eye contact, and loss of interest in playing social games. The loss of language skills could include the loss of a childs ability to understand spoken speech and sounds (receptive language skills) and/or the loss of a childs ability to use words/spoken language (expressive language skills). Diagnosis
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that most children receive a developmental screening at their 9-month, 18 month, and 30 month physical exams. Physicians also screen children for autism spectrum disorder at their 18-month and 2 year appointments. If the screening indicates a potential problem, a physician would then perform a developmental evaluation to identify the specific developmental areas affected and assess the childs needs. Parents can also monitor their children and inform their provider if their child has lost previously reached developmental milestones. Treatment
For treatment of regression of motor skills, occupational and physical therapy can be used. Occupational therapy can help children regain some of their lost fine motor skills. An occupational therapist can help a child improve their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination so they can complete basic life tasks like bathing or feeding themselves, and fine motor skill tasks like writing. Physical therapy can be used to treat regression of gross motor skills. Physical therapists can help a child with skills like walking or mobility issues.Speech therapy is often used for treatment of regression of language skills.