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Original poster

Can someone explain PDA to me please.

20 replies

Floopytheloopy · 21/04/2011 08:54

Hi everyone.

I was reading a thread yesterday(can't remember which now)and somebody was talking about how their dc had been diagnosed with HFA and PDA. I googled PDA and have to say for the first time my dd(4)ticked 95% of the boxes.

Whenever I have looked at symptoms of ASD dd usually only gets about 50% matching. Although I know that it's such a broad spectrum and that most kids aren't going to get the full 100%, her scores as it were always held me back from getting her assessed.

After doing some research on PDA this sounds much more likely. The thing that has concerned me the most is that although it's recently been more connected to an ASD, the treatment is completely different.

Although i'm reasonably clued up as to what it is, it would be extremely useful to hear from a parent who has a child with PDA. Could you please describe their symptoms. I would be so grateful.

Thanks for reading. :)

OP posts:
lisad123isasnuttyasaboxoffrogs · 21/04/2011 11:50

bumping for you, but have no advice sorry

TooOrangeyForCrows · 21/04/2011 12:11

Was it this thread?

PDA

StarlightMcKenzie · 21/04/2011 12:36

Is the treatment REALLY different to that for ASD?

I'm sorry it must be SO confusing and stressful for you at the moment without me asking these questions but there isn't any one agreed treatment approach for ASD so I'm not sure how it can be different from treatment for PDA iyswim.

c0rns1lk · 21/04/2011 12:42

I think that ASD children need more structured routine than PDA children.

StarlightMcKenzie · 21/04/2011 12:42

okay. Why?

c0rns1lk · 21/04/2011 12:45

I think that a rigid routine can cause a PDA child anxiety. There's not a lot of info out there so it's from random googling I've found this out!

StarlightMcKenzie · 21/04/2011 12:48

Oh, I see. Interesting.

I thought you were saying that children with ASD needed a structured routine, and that children with PDA did not.

But what you were saying is that children with PDA find structured routines difficult wheras children with ASD do not!?

c0rns1lk · 21/04/2011 12:50

erm yes I think so - I'm confusing myself here.Confused This is from random googling and I might have got completely the wrong end of the stick.

Rumbledore · 21/04/2011 13:14

Hi, have you seen this blog written by a friend of mine? It is about a boy called Michael who is classic pda Grin. This boy is my ds' best friend so I know him quite well.

I hope you find this blog useful.

alexcparsons.wordpress.com/

silverfrog · 21/04/2011 13:32

I am always confused by the claims that PDA needs completely different "treatment" (ie intervention) form ASD, classic or otherwise.

dd1 is severe ASD (although not "classic" as such)
dd2 is probable PDA (and I mean very probable). dsd is also more likely to be PDA than AS (her current dx), but as she is an adult now, it is more up to her what interventions/strategies she uses - we still suggest, but obviously have no overall say over someone who is living on their own.

dd2 has been ABA'd since a baby. ABA would suit dsd down to the ground, if we could get her to try it.

anxiety is a huge part of PDA, but then my ASD dd1 is an overly anxious child too - anxiety is also a big part of ASD. ABA can, and does, address this is delivered properly. ABA has so far helped dd1 overcome her extreme phobia (and I do mean extreme phobia) of animals - she can now ride a horse. her anxiety was such that even on seeing an animal in a field she would scream and wet herself. he has even stroked a dog recently (dogs were where the phobia originated)

ABA has helped both dds with their extreme anxiety revolving around me - separation anxiety to extreme.

imo, ABA is the best intervention for ASD, and it has also helped my PDA dd2 immeasurably too - hence my confusion over the so-called need for "different" strategies.

Tiggles · 21/04/2011 13:47

I have a friend whose child has PDA, who created this website, from what I can see any 'demand' even a nice demand eg. "Can you go and get an ice lolly from the freezer" is met by severe resistance.

MarioandLuigi · 21/04/2011 14:02

I volunteer at an ASD drop-in with a lady who's son has PDA. She uses this forum which might be of some help.

From what I understand it is very common for PDA to be mistaken for Autism.

MarioandLuigi · 21/04/2011 14:03

Actually I see that you live close to me. If you would like some more info then you can drop in to see us here. We are open Tuesday, wednesday and Thurday mornings. The lady who I spoke about is the Centre manager and is very knowledgable.

lisad123isasnuttyasaboxoffrogs · 21/04/2011 15:21

I want somewhere liek that here :(

Original poster
Floopytheloopy · 21/04/2011 15:50

Wow! Thanks for all the great advice everyone.

Marioandluigi- I had a look at the website. It looks brilliant and I might pop in at some point.

From the feedback that i've got, it seems as though PDA is a very difficult condition to diagnose. There definitely seems a sense of confusion.

Has anyone actually got a child who possibly has this?

OP posts:
silverfrog · 21/04/2011 15:58

Floopy - yes, as I said earlier, my dd2 is probably PDA.

lisad123isasnuttyasaboxoffrogs · 21/04/2011 16:30

not sure if this is any help here

Marne · 21/04/2011 20:41

Floopy- are you on facebook? if so i know a lovely lady who has a 13 year old girl with ASD and PDA who is very clued up about it, she has her own support group, she may be able to offer you some advice.

glittery · 21/04/2011 20:56

www.pdacontact.org.uk/ might be useful?

Original poster
Floopytheloopy · 21/04/2011 22:00

silverfrog sorry I must have missed your post. I was in a bit of a hurry at the time so I didn't really have time to read everything.

Thanks everyone for the links. I am going to have a look at them now.:)

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