The characteristics of PDD-NOS
Notice
It is important to know that all the characteristics do not have to be pressent in everyone with an ASD disorder. Furthermore, these characteristics can vary from moment to moment, depending on the mood of the person and the events around him or her. Recognizing yourself in these characteristics does not mean that you have autism. You can use the information on this website as a pretext for an test.
The characteristics
Someone with PDD-NOS has difficulty to sence what the other is feeling. They find it difficult to read and understand non-verbal communication. Very strong emotions in the voice, or a very angry face or a big smile will be understood. But subtle non-verbal communication is difficult.
A fixed structure for someone with PDD-NOS (just like the other ASD disorders) is very important. Someone with PDD-NOS will have difficulty to plan his own day, to apply structure. Therefore, people with PDD-NOS often work with a fixed daily schedule each day which explains what will happen. The schedule is for the most part the same from week to week. Changes in this structure can cause panic, anger and irritation.
A common feature of PDD-NOS is that someone with PDD-NOS does not really feel the need to have friends, to (birthday) parties to determine whether the break with classmates to play football. This is the image that people isolate themselves with PDD-NOS strengthened.
It's common for people with PDD-NOS to develope a socio-emotional disadvantage during childhood and adolescence. Usually they grow out of this backlog after puberty. Also, people with PDD-NOS often have impaired motor skills. This can be noticed by, for example, an strange way (clamping, squeezing) of holding a pen.
Someone with PDD-NOS quickly takes things literally. For someone with PDD-NOS fantasy and reality is not always easy to distinguish from each other. This is especially so in (young) children and usually (or at least lessence) draws back during puberty or just before. The main difference with McDD is that with McDD these problems are part of the main problem and that these problems usually do not disapear.
Puns and phrases are difficult to understand. Firstly this is because someone with PDD-NOS often thinks quite literally. In addition, they think very visually. Ts thus an image of a proverb is formed in his head. Another consequence is that a child with PDD-NOS can start laughing at proverbs likes "The pot calls the kettle black." Usually during puberty, young people will learn that proverbs do not literally mean what is being said but that there is an underlying meaning or message associated with them. Until then, it is important that the child is explained in each situation what the proverb means.
Someone with PDD-NOS can quickly associate. This allows conversations to make unexpected turns, which make perfect sense for the person with PDD-NOS but for the partners is completely illogical. This can cause irritation to both sides. Irritation to the person with PDD-NOS because they can not understand why the other person is angry or irritated. They do not understand why the other does not understand why he or she begins about a chair while they were speaking about a table. It leads to irritation in others because they do not understand why his partner suddenly begins about that chair, while he was talking about a table.
Someone with PDD-NOS, as generally in ASD, is very rigid. Once an opinion is formed it will not easily be deviated from. It is also difficult for them to deviate from the picture in their head. When he or she thinks something will happen in a certain way, but it happens in a different way it may cause stress and panic.
Like with Asperger's people with PDD-NOS have fiebs (preoccupations). This allows them to tell about their Fiep very extensive, while they just answer to the question being asked if the subject is the news, the weather or any other topic. Unless of course the news was about the subject of their Fieb.
Someone with PDD-NOS often speaks (very) formal and dignified. Although this is less formal and dignified as someone with Asperger's, but still noticable. Especially among children.
Someone with PDD-NOS feels, just like someone with any other form of ASD disorders, not at ease in (large) groups of people. This is because touch and being close together, especially with strangers, feels not nice. In an unexpected touch, someone with Classical Autism may panic. Someone with PDD-NOS has that not so much, in normal situations. In the event of stress or as someone with PDD-NOS may be panicking by touch a lot quicker.
