Individuals with other disabilities, such as OCD or blindness, will also exhibit ritual behaviors that help to calm the individual and make the environment more familiar to them.  Data suggests that the basal ganglia and frontal lobes of the brain are responsible for the development of repetitive behaviors.  There is also evidence from psychopharmacological studies that suggests there is an overlap in the neuropathology of autism and OCD.

In studies that have attempted to compare the development of ritualistic behaviors in people who suffer either from autism or OCD have found that while these behaviors are similar in early development of the processes over time they become less similar or serve a different function in these two populations.  This research has helped to further define treatment protocols that may or may not work in children and adults with autism.

Although children with autism will appear to have normal physical development with good muscle tone they will also exhibit repetitive and ritualistic behavior that may also be called stereotypic movement disorder.  Another common term is self-stimulation or ‘stimming’.  These motions are called this because the constant motion will stimulate the brain in a way that the individual finds comforting.

There are several theories about what these behaviors serve and the reasons for the increased incidence in people who suffer from autism.  One theory is that the nervous system is understimulated and these behaviors serve to increase the stimulation of the nervous system.  Others theorizes that the nervous system that is over stimulated will find these movements normalizing.

Some of these typical examples are teeth grinding, hand waving or flapping, rocking movements, and nail biting.  In some instances this self-stimulating or ritualistic behaviors can be damaging and injure the individual.  These behaviors may include head banging, self-biting or picking at the skin.

These ritualistic behaviors can be extreme or may be more subtle.  Individuals may spend a lot of time flapping their arms or wiggling their toes or they may suddenly freeze in position.  Another ritualistic behavior can involve language.  In this case it is called echolalia which is the repetition of a single word or phrase.  This can be a constant repetition or it may be a specific number of times done at a specific time of the day.

In cases where the ritualistic behavior is subtle and doesn’t cause injury to the individual or bystanders they may be ignored.  However, in some cases these behaviors may be causing injury or be so severe that they interfere with the individual’s ability to interact with his environment in the best way they are able.  In these cases the ritualistic behavior may be addressed through Applied Behavioral Analysis, Sensory Stimulation Therapy or medication depending upon the theorized cause behind the behavior.

Ritualistic behaviors are often a part of the diagnosis of autism and something that individuals and parents must learn to cope with.  By helping the individual to learn coping strategies and the parents to help the child most children with mild to moderate autism are able to function in society without additional stress.

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Medical Assessment

The medical assessment will examine the child completely to rule out any health conditions that could be causing the symptoms the child is experiencing. Some health conditions can cause similar symptoms as those in Persuasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified.

Educational Assessment

The child will be tested in several different educational areas. They will be assessed on what skills they have appropriate for their age. They will be assessed on daily living skills. These skills include dressing, bathing, eating, etc. These skills can be assessed by testing, or interviewing the parents, and teachers.

Interviews with Child’s Parents, Teachers

Children with Persuasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified can have different symptoms at different times or places. Interviewing the child’s parents and teachers gives a better picture of the child. A child in school is with the teachers for several hours a day. They can add very important information to the child’s assessment. The same can be said for anyone that spends a lot of time with the child. This might be a daycare provider, or grandma.

Psychological Assessment

The child will be assessed by a Psychologist to rule out any mental disorders that could be causing the problems. The child will be examined for delays in several areas like cognitive, or social. They will be evaluated for anxiety, or problems with depression.

Behavior Observation Assessment

The doctor assessing the child for PDD-NOS might want to observe the child in a natural setting. This can be done in the child’s home. This gives the doctor a better view of symptoms a child is having. They can see how the child acts with their family.

Communication Assessment

The child will have their communication skills tested. This will be done with testing and by talking to the child’s parents. The child will be assessed for their ability to understand others, and their ability to use their words. The doctor will want to know if the child understands body language, and facial expressions.

Occupational Assessment

The occupational assessment will check how well the child can use their fine motor skills. They will also check for any sensory issues the child may be dealing with. An example of a sensory issue would be a child that only likes certain textures. This can make choosing clothing difficult.

After all of the assessments are complete the team will meet and decide if the child has met the criteria for a diagnosis of Persuasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. If the child is found to have PDD-NOS a treatment plan will be created. Getting treatment for the child is very important. The treatments can help a child with Persuasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified to be able to communicate better. They can learn how to act in social settings. Overall treatment can make their life easier.