How do I know if my child has PDA?

The main characteristic of PDA is high anxiety when demands are made on the person. Demand avoidance can be seen in any child with an ASD but when the avoidance reaches pathological levels, major difficulties arise. This is the main criterion for diagnosis. People with PDA become experts at avoiding demands.

What does pathological demand avoidance look like in adults?

The main traits of a PDA profile are: obsessively resisting ordinary demands of life, including self-imposed demands. appearing sociable on the surface but lacking depth in their understanding (often recognised by parents early on) impulsivity and excessive mood swings, often switching suddenly.

Can you have PDA without autism?

Those conditions are not autism spectrum disorder profiles; they can be present in individuals who do not have a diagnosis of autism. PDA is, however, a profile of autism, and sits in the blue inner circle of this diagram (produced by the PDA Society).

Is PDA caused by trauma?

Some research suggests that PDA can be explained by interaction of various common co-occuring conditions, and the majority of these conditions are associated to childhood trauma/ aversive experiences. Many of the features assessed by PDA’s validated screening and diagnostic tools are associated with trauma.

Are children with PDA aggressive?

Young people with PDA can switch from passive to aggressive very quickly. They may apologise yet do the same thing again straight away, whereas young people with ASD are seldom impulsive, tending more to work to their own rules and not put an act on for anyone.

How do you test for PDA?

Echocardiogram. Sound waves produce images of the heart that can help the doctor identify a PDA , see if the heart chambers are enlarged, and judge how well the heart is pumping. This test also helps the doctor evaluate the heart valves and detect other potential heart defects.

What do I do if I think my child has PDA?

People with PDA can need a lot of support. The sooner you can recognise the behaviours, the sooner you can look for support. Make sure you speak to your GP or the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) at your child’s school. Spend some time thinking about the demands on your child.

How do you discipline a child with PDA?

Use a collaborative, respectful communication style. Allow the child a sense of control and be prepared to negotiate (start high and allow the child to feel that he has won). Visual timetables can help to depersonalise demands. Allow the child extra time to process what is said to them.

Can PDA be masked at school?

​Extensive involvement in fantasy/role play. Meltdowns/shutdowns/behaviour that challenges – or equally a child may mask and internalise whilst at school (please see below) It is not uncommon for children with PDA to experience multiple exclusions from an early age.

What does demand avoidance look like?

While children with ASD may resist demands by refusing, withdrawing or ignoring the demands, children with PDA use strategies which can be seen as socially manipulative to avoid demands, for example, by making excuses, distracting, procrastinating, using threats and physically incapacitating self (“My arms don’t work”) …

What is the difference between odd and PDA?

ODD is sometimes confused with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). PDA is characterised by an extreme avoidance of everyday demands and is an anxiety-driven need to be in control. Also unlike ODD, children with PDA share many of the social communication, social interaction and sensory difficulties seen with Autism.

Does pathological demand avoidance go away?

PDA demand avoidance isn’t a choice and is lifelong – it’s seen in infants and remains part of the experience into old age. With understanding, helpful approaches from others and finding self-coping and coping strategies, it can become more manageable.

How do you fix pathological demand avoidance?

Areas of need include sensory support, help with identifying emotions or managing anxiety, or support with speech and communication.
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Other forms of therapy to help support PDA autism include:
  1. Hippotherapy (therapy with horses)
  2. Music therapy.
  3. Art therapy.
  4. Speech and drama classes.

What is extreme demand avoidance?

EDA describes a rare profile of these difficulties that gives rise to an extreme anxiety response to perceived demands and expectations. All behaviour is communication. Controlling behaviours in EDA are often communicating extreme anxiety.