Pathological demand avoidance (PDA) is an extreme resistance to everyday demands, such as getting dressed or brushing the teeth. Researchers often associate PDA with autism, especially in children.

Demand avoidance is a natural human behavior. To some degree, we all avoid doing things asked of us. We might avoid doing the dishes when our partner asks because the chore feels tedious or ...

“Charlie” is an eight-year-old child with autism. Her parents are worried because she often responds to requests with insults, aggression and refusal. Simple demands, such as being asked to get ...

When 11-year-old Milly and her mum Jenny arrived at the school principal's office, Jenny's heart sank. There were more people there this time than usual — and she knew this would be a problem for her ...

Michigan’s Lozen family; Ask the Experts; Difference Maker actor/advocate Patrick McKenna. A Michigan family embraces low-demand parenting, discovering how easing expectations can unlock connection ...

This story is from The Pulse, a weekly health and science podcast. Find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Stella, 4, is smart, funny and has a lot of energy. Her verbal ...

For some children, everyday demands such “brush your teeth” or “time to get off of your computer game”, can trigger intense anxiety and extreme resistance. When this type of response affects everyday ...

McFly drummer Harry Judd’s wife Izzy Johnston revealed this week that one of their three children has pathological demand avoidance (PDA). “To the outsider looking in, they might see that as a sort of ...

A parent came into my office recently seeking help for her 12-year-old son. “I don’t know why everything with him has to be such a fight. He argues with everything I ask him to do, no matter how small ...

For some children, everyday demands such as "brush your teeth" or "time to get off of your computer game," can trigger intense anxiety and extreme resistance. When this type of response affects ...