CAMHS psychologist doesn't recognise PDA..now what?

[pia78]

I have posted before re sons challenging behaviour and suspicion of having PDA.
Have started CAMHS process but after visiting him at school (a good day according to teacher) and observing him for half an hour she had decided against further assessment. He behaved perfectly at the children's centre where she observed him, to the point where he was compliant and engaging in a way that I have never been able to get him to do in FOUR AND A HALF YEARS. am so frustrated as i know there is something not right with my boy and it is not a parenting issue ffs!!
How can I get this sorted properly? I have spoken to Elizabeth newson centre but I can't afford the £3000 to go private, also because husband in denial and won't support. It's been a milestone to get him to realise his behaviour is extreme- only taken me 2+ years to get him to agree to see a psychologist.
Can anybody recommend a PDA specialist in London who we could see?
Why is this disorder not recognised by the diagnostic manual?

[oldbirdy]

bat everyone agrees that pda is a form of autism, even the Newson centre. That old "similar but qualitatively different" line has been superceded some time ago.

[Fighterofthenightman]

I'm with everyone else, PDA is part of Autism. If he doesn't fulfil the criteria for Autism then it won't be PDA.

[crazybat]

Yes im not saying it isnt sorry if it seemed that way, im pointing out that there are huge differences as well. Autism and adhd have overlapping traits but are also different. Aspergers has its own name as well as being known as high functioning autism. PDA should be known as its own asd disorder. Thats all.

[Melawati]

August regardless of what your social worker says, if you think your DD might have Aspergers and PDA -so essentially ASD - try to get her a referral for diagnosis. If she does have ASD 'normal' Camhs interventions for anxiety probably won't work - people with ASD need a different approach.

[AugustRose]

Melawati thanks for that, unfortunately DD has been quite opposed to any referral/intervention and she only got referred to CAMHS after seeing the school nurse, who decided she couldn't provide the support DD needs.

I was hoping the Barnardos counsellor might be able to help with any further referral but it could be May before DD even sees them and the referral from the school nurse was done in November! I know a couple of families who have been through the system for ASD so will ask them about the process in our area. Sadly like everwhere else it takes so long and there seems to be a reluctance to accept a child is having difficulty.

[Craftyoldhen]

My 9 year old DD has ASD and is very demand avoidant.

Her school totally understand her and that helps massively.

But it's difficult to get other people who don't know DD as well to grasp it. She has input from CAMHS and autism outreach who both suggested using visuals and timetables as a way of supporting her in and out of school.

Neither of these work for DD. The only thing I've found to be helpful is a very flexible and collabarative approach.

Both CAMHS and autism outreach don't listen to a word I say and keep repeating in a patronising voice "visuals and timetables are tried and tested methods proven to work with children with ASD".

ARGH

I've actually had to ask school to no longer involve autism outreach in DDs support as they were so unhelpful (they agreed with me as it happens!).

I wish there was more knowledge and recognition of demand avoidant behaviour amongst so called professionals.