Demand Avoidance (or Pathological Demand Avoidance – PDA) is widely debated as a diagnostic term.

International and American diagnostic manuals do not currently recognise PDA as a separate diagnosis but you might see a reference to a PDA profile within, or separate, to an autism diagnosis.

In Highland a Demand Avoidance presentation is recognised as part of an autism diagnosis.

People with a PDA profile are driven to avoid everyday demands and expectations to an extreme extent. This demand is often accompanied by high levels of anxiety.

You can find out more and see strategies that may help your child on the National Autistic Society website.