Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome

[naomi24]

I’ve read up on this, but would appreciate any personal experiences. How did it manifest and what treatment was suggested or offered?

The child in question is five but since this syndrome is not universally acknowledged, I have my doubts that the diagnosis in this instance is accurate.

[Jackdaw33]

Got a link? Sounds like a load of medical gibberish to me.

[naomi24]

I'm not sure which of all the links available would be the most accurate, or the least biased, but this is from a reputable organisation.

http://www.autism.org.uk/about/what-is/pda.aspx

[hc4361]

http://www.autism.org.uk/about/what-is/pda.aspx

[Mamyalynne]

I am as a rule wary of having to give everything a name but I accept that is the way - once you start to unravel the web that is the Autistic Spectrum the more you find.

Of my 4 Grandchildren 3 are on the spectrum (diagnosed) each displays varying aspects of some but not all of the many layers of Autism.


When researching, it's often amazing how you recognise various aspects in both others you know and at times yourself.

[hc4361]

You need to read up on the person making the diagnosis, too. Good reputation?

[naomi24]

hc4361, NHS.

[hc4361]

A particular consultant?

[naomi24]

Mamyalynne, I too am wary of giving everything a name and slotting people into convenient boxes, which is why I’m questioning this. I wonder if one or two symptoms that may fit a ‘syndrome’ are pounced upon and take precedence over the rest that possibly don’t.

[naomi24]

HC, I presume it was a particular consultant. I've no idea who.

[Mamyalynne]

I agree, there always seems to be a need to tick as many boxes as possible to get somewhere - however a good consultation should at the very least offer the Parents some help towards coping strategies.

[naomi24]

divebuddy, //I suspect this will be the latest "must have" syndrome for the ultra fashion conscious. //

My thoughts precisely.

[Mamyalynne]

Yes, we re all on the spectrum but thankfully for many of us we cope admirably and it does not rule our every waking(and sometimes sleeping) moment.

[Jackdaw33]

We're all on the spectrum? My arris.

[EDDIE51]

When I was at school it was called 'Being Lazy'

[woofgang]

Jackdaw what has got into you today?

[woofgang]

I don’t know......I mean I assume that there was some kind of problem because the child was taken to see a specialist? I have said before that I was taught years ago that the dividing line between a character quirk and a problem is when the behaviour makes a real problem, either for the person or for the society they live in. I mean the child who would rather play than go to bed when told to is one thing, but imagine a child who would seriously starve themselves rather than eat because they had been told to or will go to extreme effort to avoid doing something very minor.....

[naomi24]

Woofgang, // I assume that there was some kind of problem because the child was taken to see a specialist?//

Of course - but since I was hoping to hear from people with personal experience of the way in which this 'syndrome' manifests, I won't go into detail. I want to see if their experience bears any resemblance to the case in question.

[woofgang]

sorry naomi....I was responding to the somewhat flippant comments of other posters.

[naomi24]

OK, no problem.