Question about PDA

[Whatafustercluck]

If your child has a PDA diagnosis, can you tell me whether, in someone with PDA, their 'symptoms' can vary in intensity according to levels of anxiety, or whether they are typically demand avoidant most/ all of the time. This has been suggested to us on forums as a possibility for our 6yo dd, who has anxiety and difficulties with sensory processing. However, when her emotions are regulated she is able to comply on a near-normal level. I was told that if she is PDA then she would be demand avoidant pretty much all the time. How true is this? Thank you.

Just to say I think it is unusual for PDA to be diagnosed as a standalone spectrum disorder, or as a discrete sub-type within autism, but demand avoidance may be captured as a feature within an autistic profile. It is dimensional. The PDA Society and National Autistic Society have some good resources.

Obviously autism sometimes co-exists with a range of other things like anxiety, ADHD, sensory processing difficulties, trauma, attachment difficulties etc and a clinical assessment would consider other possible explanations.

Just like any other presentation of ASD, the needs and presentation, including the level of demand avoidance, of those with PDA fluctuates due to numerous factors.

I'm beginning to think that our DD has PDA, she's currently on the Pathway. What you've described here is definitely our experience.

Some days the simplest demand will lead to a melt down and her having to retreat to her room and be left along.