Atypical Autism

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What is the difference between PDD-NOS and atypical autism? Is there a difference? I heard one site that suggested that they were the same thing, and another suggesting that atypical autism was one kind of PDD-NOS. What's the story?

By the way, does the DSM-IV have a criteria for either?

in the dsm atypical autism in included under pdd-nos in the ICD it is its ow criteria


in the dsm iv there are 5 categories in the icd there are 8 categories
DSM-IV
299.00 Autistic Disorder

299.80 Rett’s Disorder
299.10 Childhood Disintegrative Disorder

299.80 Asperger’s Disorder

299.80 Pervasive Developmental Disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS)
(including Atypical Autism)

In the ICD-10

ICD-10 Pervasive developmental disorders
F84.0 Childhood Autism
F84.1 Atypical Autism
F84.2 Rett’s Syndrome
F84.3 Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
F84.4 Overactive disorder associated with mental retardation and stereotyped movements
F84.5 Asperger’s Syndrome
F84.8 Other pervasive developmental disorders
F84.9 Pervasive developmental disorders, unspecified

PDD-NOS in the DSM-IV includes F84.1, F84.8 and F84.9 from the ICD-10

the description of atypical autism in ICD10 is
F84.1 Atypical autism
A type of pervasive developmental disorder that differs from childhood autism either in age of onset or in failing to fulfil all three sets of diagnostic criteria. This subcategory should be used when there is abnormal and impaired development that is present only after age three years, and a lack of sufficient demonstrable abnormalities in one or two of the three areas of psychopathology required for the diagnosis of autism (namely, reciprocal social interactions, communication, and restricted, stereotyped, repetitive behaviour) in spite of characteristic abnormalities in the other area(s). Atypical autism arises most often in profoundly ret*d individuals and in individuals with a severe specific developmental disorder of receptive language.

They're basically different words for the same thing. I mean there's fiddly little differences some people will create but I see that as mostly pointless.

When I was diagnosed with PDD-NOS they used both diagnoses when they wrote it down. (Of course they were trying to find a way to say "autism" without actually saying it, due to fears insurance would refuse to cover therapy for me because back then "autism" meant "hopeless". After that became less a problem they switched to just autism.)