| pervasive developmental disorder n. Abbr. PDD Any of several disorders, such as autism and Asperger's syndrome, characterized by severe deficits in many areas of development, including social interaction and communication, or by the presence of repetitive, stereotyped behaviors. Such disorders are usually evident in the first years of life and are often associated with some degree of mental retardation. |
pervasive developmental disorder per·va·sive developmental disorder (pər-vā'sĭv, -zĭv)
n.
Any of a group of disorders of infancy, childhood, or adolescence that are characterized by distortions in the development of the basic psychological functions such as language, social skills, attention, perception, reality testing, and movement.