PDA Autism

Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is a specific profile describing a small minority of autistic children. Children with PDA are driven to extreme measures to avoid everyday demands and expectations (Christie, 2016). While there are similar behavioural characteristics that define PDA, it is extremely important to consider that each PDA child is unique. The main features of PDA are: 

• An extreme resistance or avoidance of everyday, ordinary demands. 

• Appearing sociable but without a depth of understanding. 

• Poor emotional regulation. 

PDA learners at school may:

• Have difficulty accepting suggestions, guidance and direct instruction

• May lack friends and be unpopular with their peers due to their policing of others, and need for dominance

• May be acutely anxious and fearful of a range of people, activities and environments (for example, they may not be able to go outside), and they can also be emotionally exhausted from constantly being on watch for the next demand

• Have difficulties with attention when demands are being made of them (although they will display highly focused attention for self-chosen activities and interests), and have difficulties with transferring learning and experience

• Have poor self-esteem which means they often believe they cannot do something, lack confidence to try, or destroy their own work because they believe it to be poor quality. PDA children often feel a need to be on par with or better than others, although they are unable to put in the work needed to achieve this. They may show an inability to accept responsibility for mistakes, instead blaming others or creating elaborate excuses

• May become the class scapegoat or class clown