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Pathological demand avoidance adults2/29/2024 Appearing sociable, but lacking depth in understanding.tend not to respond to conventional parenting, teaching, or support approaches.present with many of the ‘key features’ of PDA rather than just one or two.tend to use approaches that are ‘social in nature’ in order to avoid demands. are driven to avoid everyday demands and expectations (including things that they want to do or enjoy) to an extreme extent.have a need for control which is anxiety related.Often including a different sensory experience in relation to sight, smell, taste, touch, hearing, vestibular, proprioception and interoception. “persistent difficulties with social communication and social interaction” and “restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, activities or interests” present since early childhood to the extent that these “limit and impair everyday functioning” (according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Fifth Edition (DSM-5)) Recognizing these profiles signposts the approaches or support that will be most helpful for each individual.Ī PDA profile of autism means that individuals share autistic characteristics … This can lead to presentations in some people – including autistic women and girls, and PDA individuals – being missed altogether, misunderstood or misdiagnosed, which can in turn lead to poor outcomes.Īll research points to early identification and tailored support being the best predictor of positive long-term outcomes. We know that autism is dimensional – it involves a complex and overlapping pattern of strengths, differences and challenges that present differently from one individual to another and in the same individual over time or in different environments.Ī cluster of traits can be called a presentation or a profile – in some cases this can be quite different from what some people think autism ‘looks like’. Many autistic advocates embrace the neurodiversity concept, where a range of neurological differences is viewed as being part of a natural human variation. The National Autistic Society explains autism as “a lifelong disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world”. While autism is a widely recognized term our understanding of the full breadth and complexity of the autism spectrum is still evolving. The US and Canada are still at an early stage in our understanding and PDA research is in its infancy. PDA is becoming widely recognized in other countries to be a profile on the autism spectrum thanks to PDA emissaries like Harry Thompson, Kristy Forbes and Laura Kerbey. It is going to be an exciting place to be. PDA North America is a beginning step to get families the resources they need and create a cadre of professionals who will partner with them. There is awareness and understanding.Īlthough this journey is in its infancy, we are determined to make things happen. There are even schools designed for this population. There are trained professionals, conferences, books, educational services and support groups. Individuals are getting formal diagnoses. In other countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, PDA is recognized. We know it is “a real thing.” We know that people need help now. We are not going to wait until PDA is included to get started. It is not in the DSM so it is not accepted by many professionals. The PDA profile is considered to be under the autism spectrum.
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