What term describes a group of developmental disorders that produce delays in multiple areas?

• A. Pervasive developmental disorders.
• B. Mood disorders.
• C. Anxiety disorders.
• D. Personality disorders.

Answer: (A)

A group of developmental disorders that produce delays in multiple areas is described as pervasive developmental disorders. The word “pervasive” signals that the impact spans several core areas of development, not just one skill. Children with these conditions typically show delays or difficulties in social interaction, communication, language, and often play or adaptive behavior, appearing early in life and affecting functioning across different settings.

This term is distinct from mood disorders (which center on disturbances in mood), anxiety disorders (excessive fear or worry), and personality disorders (long-standing patterns of behavior and inner experience). Those conditions involve different patterns of symptoms and are not framed primarily as delays across multiple developmental domains.