Mental Health Neurodevelopmental Disorders Autism 5 Outdated Autism Diagnoses By Lisa Jo Rudy Updated on March 19, 2021 Medically reviewed by Chris Vincent, MD Print Autism is a "spectrum disorder," meaning that the diagnosis encompasses a wide range of mild, moderate, or severe symptoms. Despite the nuances involved in the disorder, anyone with symptoms of autism receives the same diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This has been true since 2013, when the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) was published. Prior to that, the DSM-IV recognized five distinct autism spectrum diagnoses, including Asperger's syndrome, pervasive developmental disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), Rett syndrome, and childhood disintegrative disorder. While ASD is used as the official diagnosis, as well as for insurance coding purposes, healthcare providers can still use one of the previously recognized diagnoses in a patient's medical records. Here is an explanation of what these outdated diagnoses meant and how their specific symptoms are accounted for within the broader ASD diagnosis. To help narrow down the all-encompassing diagnosis of ASD, the DSM-5 identifies three levels of the disorder. Those with level 1 are the highest functioning, with levels 2 and 3 indicating moderate and severe deficits in functioning, respectively. What's the Difference Between High- and Low-Functioning Autism? Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) KidStock / Getty Images Pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) was a general term that described a group of disorders of development of socialization and communication; PDD included the other diagnoses discussed in this article. As such, it was roughly equivalent to autism spectrum disorder, and the DSM-5 replaced PDD with ASD. In other words, PDD, like ASD, encompassed a range of language, social, and behavioral differences ranging from mild to severe. A History and Timeline of Autism Asperger's Syndrome Adriana Varela Photography / Moment / Getty Images Asperger's syndrome was the diagnosis given to people at the highest-functioning end of the autism spectrum. Per the DSM-5, someone with symptoms in keeping with an Asperger's diagnosis would be diagnosed with level 1 ASD. Children with this diagnosis develop language skills on the same timeline as typically-developing children, but have difficulties with appropriate social communication; these problems become more obvious as they get older and social expectations increase. Children with ASD often have sensory issues as well. Many people in the autism community continue to identify as having Asperger's syndrome because of its usefulness in describing a very specific group of people. Asperger's Syndrome Is No Longer an Official Diagnosis Childhood Disintegrative Disorder A diagnosis of childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD) was given to children with a rare, late-onset form of severe autism. Using DSM-5 terminology, CDD would be considered "low-functioning autism," or ASD level 3. However, while level 3 ASD applies to all children who have severe deficits in language (including being completely nonverbal), social function, and sometimes motor skills, CDD was used to describe a specific group of children who developed typically until around age 3 and then—sometimes suddenly—lost most or all of those acquired abilities and skills. Symptoms and Challenges of Severe Autism Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) RapidEye / Getty Images Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) described children who didn't fully fit the criteria for other specific autism diagnoses (such as Asperger's syndrome) but still had some symptoms of autism. Essentially, PDD-NOS was a "catchall" term for disorders with autism-like symptoms that didn't fit the full criteria for another diagnosis. Because there was no easy way to define the symptoms of PDD-NOS, which may range from very mild to very severe, the diagnostic category no longer exists, though a new diagnosis introduced in the DSM-5, social (pragmatic) communication disorder, may become a similar catchall category. Is It Autism or Social Communication Disorder? Rett Syndrome Rett syndrome is a genetic disorder that primarily affects girls. Because the syndrome can include symptoms of autism, it was included in the DSM-IV. The DSM-5 no longer recognizes Rett syndrome. It is only one of the former autism spectrum disorders that can be diagnosed with the help of a blood test, hence it is considered a physical disorder. Children with Rett syndrome develop numerous physical symptoms, such as seizures, and a profound inability to use their hands usefully. Symptoms and Causes of Rett Syndrome 8 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD): Diagnostic criteria. King BH, Navot N, Bernier R, Webb SJ. Update on diagnostic classification in autism. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2014 Mar;27(2):105-9. doi: 10.1097/YCO.0000000000000040 National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Pervasive developmental disorders information page. Giles DC. 'DSM-V is taking away our identity': the reaction of the online community to the proposed changes in the diagnosis of Asperger's disorder. Health (London). 2014;18(2):179-195. doi:10.1177/1363459313488006 Charan SH. Childhood disintegrative disorder. J Pediatr Neurosci. 2012;7(1):55-57. doi:10.4103/1817-1745.97627 National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. About Autism. Topal Z, Demir samurcu N, Taskiran S, et al. Social communication disorder: A narrative review on current insights. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2018;14:2039-2046. doi:10.2147/NDT.S121124 RettSyndrome.org. FAQs. By Lisa Jo Rudy Lisa Jo Rudy, MDiv, is a writer, advocate, author, and consultant specializing in the field of autism. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit