Diagnosis
Found 27 listings
Neurodiversity! What’s That?
Neurodiversity! What’s That? is for children aged 7 and upwards.
This book is a fun introduction to neurodiversity written by a neurodivergent mum aiming to improve the self-esteem and confidence of children.
The book includes many positive messages and can also help parents navigate the world of neurodiversity.
Neurodiversity! What's That? mentions [...]
The Panda on PDA
In this positive, gentle and PDA-friendly guide for young children, PDA is explained by a playful Panda who is PDA and very proud of it. The Panda is full of talents and strengths, but finds it very hard to do what others want. In fact, the Panda has become [...]
Identifying & Assessing a PDA profile – Practice Guidance
Practice guidance collating the professional practice and experience of a multidisciplinary group of professionals working in the NHS and private practice.
The goal of this document is to aid assessment of a PDA profile, to distinguish PDA from other presentations of marked demand avoidance, and to signpost appropriate support and [...]
Extreme Demand Avoidance in Children: Refinement of a Caregiver-Report Measure
Extreme Demand Avoidance in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Refinement of a Caregiver-Report Measure
For anyone involved in either research or in the assessment of neurodevelopmental conditions, this adaptation of the EDA-Q will be of interest. Called the EDA-8, it is a refined and simplified scale that benefits from the [...]
The Amazing Autistic Brain Cards
150 Cards with Strengths and Challenges for Positive Autism Discussions.
This deck of cards is a resource to help professionals, parents and anyone working with autistic young people to have discussions about an Autism diagnosis in a personalised, positive and meaningful way.
The beautifully designed cards each show a strength - [...]
Ways to Be Me
From the bestselling author duo behind Can You See Me? comes this exceptional portrayal of autism diagnosis, with diary entries by 12-year-old autistic author Libby Scott based on her own experiences of autism with a demand avoidant profile.
Taking place before Can You See Me? and Do You Know Me? [...]
PDA best practice – the professional voice
PDA best practice - what the professionals would like you to know
Professionals from a range of backgrounds explain why they feel it's important to identify PDA and share their tips for best practice.
This is one of two resources created for PDA Day 2021 that share best practice about PDA [...]
PDA best practice – the PDA community’s voice
PDA best practice - what the PDA community would like professionals to know
This is one of two resources created for PDA Day 2021 that share best practice about PDA for professionals from all sectors – including healthcare, education, social care, the law, therapists, counsellors, advocates and policy makers.
This video [...]
Local position statements on PDA
Local authorities, NHS trusts and other bodies are increasingly producing and sharing information about PDA within local areas. This page contains links to such information.
Local position statements
Some local areas have found it helpful to state their position on the use of terminology around PDA.
Examples of formal position statements include:
[...]
Summary of Understanding of E/PDA
Extreme /’Pathological’ Demand Avoidance
This article addresses the topics of debate and controversy that exist surrounding the classification of extreme/’pathological’ demand avoidance as a profile of the autism spectrum. A comprehensive overview of the existing and ongoing areas of research is given.
There is discussion of the behavioural traits displayed by [...]
Tool to support diagnosis of ASD / PDA / Attachment disorders
Modification of the Coventry Grid Interview to include the Pathological Demand Avoidant profile
The Coventry Grid Interview was designed to be used by clinicians as part of a comprehensive assessment process and not as a stand-alone diagnostic tool.
There is often diagnostic confusion over the differences between children presenting with autism [...]
The Extreme Demand Avoidance Questionnaire (EDAq)
The ‘Extreme Demand Avoidance Questionnaire’ (EDA-Q) was developed to measure behaviours reported in clinical accounts of extreme/‘pathological’ demand avoidance (PDA). The questionnaire allowed these traits to be measured consistently for research purposes. The EDA-Q should not be considered a diagnostic test.
In the study of parent-reported behaviours in children and [...]
Development of the ‘Extreme Demand Avoidance Questionnaire’
Development of the 'Extreme Demand Avoidance Questionnaire' (EDA-Q): Preliminary observations on a trait measure for Pathological Demand Avoidance
This paper provides in-depth information about the development of ‘The Extreme Demand Avoidance Questionnaire’ (EDA-Q). It was published in 2013; a time when the awareness of PDA was increasing amongst professionals.
The purpose [...]
Identifying features of ‘PDA’ using the Diagnostic Interview (DISCO)
Identifying features of ‘pathological demand avoidance’ using the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders (DISCO)
This paper discusses the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders (DISCO) and existing items within the model which are more specific to PDA when compared to the rest of the autism spectrum. It [...]
Diagnostic tool: poster presentation
Features of Pathological Demand Avoidance Identified Using the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders (‘DISCO’)
This is a concise, diagrammatic summary of the original research paper. The aims of the original study were two-fold: to identify items of the DISCO that measure features of PDA most likely to discriminate [...]
Measurement of Adult Traits
The Measurement of Adult Pathological Demand Avoidance Traits
This paper reports two studies that were carried out to test the validity of the EDA-QA (Extreme Demand Avoidance Questionnaire for Adults) when screening for PDA in adults. Participants in the study were volunteers recruited from a variety of specialist online forums [...]
Need for distinguishing PDA
Pathological demand avoidance syndrome: a necessary distinction within the pervasive developmental disorders
The aim of this paper was to gain recognition for pathological demand avoidance (PDA) as a separate entity within the Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDDs) (now termed Autism Spectrum Disorders, ASD). Elizabeth Newson and colleagues had recognised a group [...]
Good diagnostic assessment – children
This information has been produced by the PDA Development Group, August 2017. The PDA Development Group is an informal group comprised of representatives from the NAS and PDA Society and individual practitioners with an interest in PDA from a range of disciplines (education, paediatrics, psychology, research) working in both [...]
Evidence for use of PDA terminology
Evidence for Professional Consideration of Demand Avoidance in Autism Assessments
The lack of research into PDA explains why it doesn’t feature in diagnostic manuals, although these manuals do permit for clarifying terminology such as “ASD with a demand avoidant profile”.
The following evidence has been drawn together to demonstrate that, while [...]
Child Behaviour & Parenting Strategies
The Child Behaviour and Parenting Strategies study was designed to investigate links between child behaviour and parenting strategies, as well as many other factors, with a particular focus on children with developmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
This is an update on preliminary findings from the study, which [...]
Being Misunderstood – 2018 Survey
Experiences of the PDA Profile of Autism
Education, health and social care services are designed to be 'needs-based' and 'outcomes-focused'.
While the intention is clear, there is a group of autistic people whose needs are frequently not identified in detail, not understood in practice and not fully communicated between professionals. As [...]
Independent diagnostic centres
The centres listed below all assess for Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) and within that give consideration to the demand avoidant profile. These centres provide diagnostic assessments for both adults and children unless otherwise specified. Each centre uses their own terminology for describing a PDA profile: some may use “ASD [...]
Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome in Children
A Guide for Parents, Teachers and Other Professionals
The first book ever written about PDA - it gives a comprehensive overview for everyone with an interest in the subject. It was written collaboratively by professionals and parents.
This straightforward guide offers a complete overview of Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome (PDA) and [...]
Assessing speech & language needs
10 tips for assessing speech & language needs in children with PDA
by Libby Hill, Speech and Language Therapist
Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is a profile on the autism spectrum. As its name suggests, people with a PDA profile avoid demands to an extreme extent. Not in the way that all [...]
Statement about diagnostic terminology
PDA Society statement on diagnostic terminology
PDA is widely, but not universally, understood to be a profile on the autism spectrum.
Understanding of PDA is at an early stage and robust research is urgently needed.
There is currently a range of academic and clinical perspectives about PDA.
It is important to understand this [...]
Hertfordshire families
A survey of 38 families in Hertfordshire showed that many felt desperate and a majority described how local services had not helped them. These results were published with a call to action, with the support of local Autism charities, and taken to the Herts All-Age Autism Partnership Board with [...]
Survey of Professionals
Overview
Awareness of PDA has been growing rapidy in recent years. The National Autistic Society run annual conferences on the subject and research is now being conducted by a number of different institutions, so understanding of the condition is developing apace.
Parents, schools and health and eductional professionals are finding that [...]