Meet My Autistic Brain Pathological Demand Avoidance
May 30, 2023
Explore the concept of Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) in autism and its characteristics, including resistance to demands, difficulty with rules, and emotional instability. Discuss the potential consequences of using negotiation as a communication tool for children with PDA. Discover strategies for providing alternatives and choices to individuals with PDA, considering the impact of consequences, sensory sensitivities, and flexibility in approaching them.
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PDA Is A Contested Profile
- Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) describes persistent resistance to ordinary demands beyond toddler 'terrible twos'.
- PDA is debated: some treat it as a distinct condition, others as an autism profile or symptom.
Core Features And Behavioral Profile
- Key PDA features include evading ordinary demands and using social strategies to avoid them.
- People with PDA may appear sociable but lack deeper understanding and show extreme mood swings.
Work Choice Reflects Demand Avoidance
- The speaker links personal career choices to demand avoidance, preferring self-employment to avoid being told what to do.
- She describes PDA behaviors like role play, obsession, clinginess, and appearing charming yet later showing social difficulties.