Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is a profile of autism characterized by an extreme need to avoid everyday demands and expectations, often due to high levels of anxiety.
Individuals with PDA may use strategies such as distraction, negotiation, or withdrawal to resist demands, even those they place on themselves. Unlike typical autism profiles, PDA individuals may appear highly social but struggle with controlling and managing interactions.
Some children and young people (CYP) can present with demand avoidant behaviours, this means that a child/young person can become increasingly distressed when asked to do something directly.
Demand avoidant behaviours can have many different causes including anxiety, sensory behaviours etc. Some people may have heard of PDA as a separate condition. At present there is no formal agreement about assessment for this condition, and it is not yet recognised separately within national and international criteria. It is currently defined as part of a presentation within autism spectrum disorder.
During an ASD assessment it is important to understand the profile of a child/young person in terms of their behaviour, and children/young people with demand avoidant behaviours may require different strategies to support them.
Helpful strategies around managing demand avoidant behaviours can be found for parents and schools on the National Autism Society Website - www.autism.org.uk, and additional support for schools though the local authority.
There is also helpful description on the national autism society website here:
Demand avoidance
Understanding PDA can help create supportive environments that reduce anxiety and promote positive engagement.