PDA

PDA can affect every aspect of a child's life and development, and, unlike an illness, there is no cure.

Up until about a year ago we had never even heard of PDA, until someone mentioned it to me during a counselling session and said it sounded like it could fit our daughter. Having now done lots of research, it was definitely a “light bulb” moment for us, and summed J up to a T! Unfortunately it is not universally accepted as a behaviour profile, but is seen in some individuals on the autism spectrum.

Difficulties

People with a demand avoidant profile share difficulties with others on the autism spectrum in social communication, social interaction and restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviours, activities or interests. They are also driven to avoid everyday demands and expectations to an extreme extent. This demand avoidant behaviour is rooted in an anxiety-based need to be control. Something we definiately related to with our daughter!!

J can appear to be very stressed by even simple everyday expectations and often attempts to avoid these to a remarkable extent. A simple demand of getting dressed, or undressed, brushing teeth, put your shoes on etc etc can (and has) resulted in a huge meltdown. 

The crazy thing to get your head around is even if it is something she wants to do, and the demand is therefore on herself, she can still be unable to comply!