Gaining Insight into Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome in Children

Linda: Finally able to put words to my sons behavior and struggles. So helpful.

United States on Jun 20, 2023

Kindle Customer: Whilst it is a guide for both parents and professionals and provides good insight, plus helpful advice and useful tips on handling PDA children, it isn't easy to read if one is a parent. A lot of the book relates to professionals, and how the PDA child can be helped with with the aid of specialist teachers, in the education system, working together with the parents in support, which is useful to know.

United Kingdom on Apr 20, 2023

LW: It was recommended to us to read by another parent to help us get a better understanding of how this affects our son. I was amazed reading it that it described my son to a T. My husband initially found it too much like a text book but after I said I hadn’t he persevered and found it much easier to follow . We have recommended it to the school and other professionals in our sons life to read to better understand him.
It helps you understand. I recommend it

United Kingdom on Nov 17, 2019

Mature man: Informative about upcoming probable diagnosis.

United States on Jul 14, 2019

Surge: This book really helped me to gain perspective on how to address the unique needs of my child.

United States on Aug 10, 2018

Stephanie Kenniburg: This is the information I have been waiting to hear that finally describes my child. This book is well written, very easy for parents to understand, gives great advice in an educational setting. This has been so helpful in understanding the needs of my son, and gives good insight and techniques in how to work with him and parent him according to his needs.

United States on Jan 05, 2017

Saori: Is a good book, informative and explains many things clearly. Remember to write the relevant papers and journals, that will help you to make more sense of the book and read critically. As a professional remember that critical evaluation does not mean criticising, it has nothing to do with it. I recommend this book if you have a critical eye and are interested in the disorder. Furthermore, if you have read previous serious literature, such as Newson (1986-2003); Newson, E., Le Maréchal, K., & David, C. (2003); Christie, P., Duncan, M., Fidler, R., & Healy, Z. (2012); O’Nions, E., Viding, E., Greven, C. U., Ronald, A., & Happé, F. (2014); amongst other important authors.

United Kingdom on Apr 14, 2016

Cindi Long: Great book to understand this condition that is usually labeled bratty kid syndrome in the USA. If you suspect something isn't right but your child is more social than you've been led to believe a kid with autism would be, and more verbal, then read this book. We need to raise awareness of this issue.

United States on Jan 14, 2015

Clive Reader: This book brings together all of the research and knowledge accumulated by the foremost experts in PDA in the UK, covering diagnostic elements, how to cope with PDA children in the home and at school, educating PDA children, and helping PDA children to come to terms with, and understand,their PDA as they get older, plus a section at the end providing useful websites and books, and looking at the future research which needs to be carried out. It has real case studies from parents with PDA children which also provide useful insights. Although this is the most comprehensive book on the subject currently available, do not expect it to provide all of the answers to all of your questions. The fact is that not all of the answers exist, and each child will have their own variation of behaviours and anxieties, so this book can only be a guide and a source of valuable information, not an "instruction manual for your child". Having said that, if your child has PDA, or you are involved with caring for or educating a child with PDA, then I would regard this book as "essential reading". You need to be armed with the knowledge and advice that this book provides.

United Kingdom on Nov 20, 2012

dirtmother: There has long been a need for a book to explain Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome. For the first book on the subject to be so very well written is an especial delight and I could recommend it to anyone without reservation.

It steers a very careful, honest yet pragmatic course through the political minefield of the autism industry, with a clear message that PDA requires a different approach to most other conditions under the pervasive developmental disorder/ASD umbrella. The quotations from parents are well-used to illustrate the impact on families, what might work, what generally does not and the additional sometimes unbearable burden which other people's, particularly professionals', misunderstanding can create.

There are plenty of areas within the subject that could stand more detailed examination but the authors have rightly opted to produce a manageable and eminently readable volume which there can be no excuse for anyone involved in assessing or educating unusually developing children not to read and which will provide a burst of clarity and empathy for parents struggling with wrongly or undiagnosed children.

United Kingdom on Oct 17, 2011