Understanding Demand Avoidance in Autism and Effective Support Strategies
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a subject that is widely discussed in today’s world, but it is also something that is often misunderstood. The complexities around autism, and the fact that it is a broad spectrum with a variety of traits, challenges and strengths, can lead to confusion and misconceptions.
On occasion, the issues around autism can lead to controversy too, and this is particularly true when it comes to Demand Avoidance. This is a term that has gained recognition in the context of autism, particularly in relation to a specific behavioural profile known as Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). This behaviour is often misunderstood, leading to frustration among families, educators, and clinicians. It is seen as contentious because experts have disagreed in the past on whether it should be part of the autism spectrum and whether it exists at all.
What is Demand Avoidance?
To understand Demand Avoidance, how it manifests in individuals with autism, and why understanding this behaviour is essential for providing proper support, we need to take a closer look and understand precisely what it is.
Demand Avoidance refers to when individuals experience intense distress or anxiety or become overwhelmed or dysregulated when demand is placed upon them. It can happen at any time and could be something as simple as asking someone to stop doing what they are doing or start a new task, even if it’s something they love doing. It is not a behaviour born out of laziness or defiance, rather, it is often driven by anxiety. It is a term first coined by psychologist Elizabeth Newson in the 1980s and describes a group of behaviours observed in some individuals with autism who demonstrate an overwhelming need to avoid any situation where they feel they are being pressured to perform, whether the demand is verbal, social, implied or simply a given situation.
Common Signs of Demand Avoidance
There are currently no clear diagnostic criteria for Demand Avoidance, and the way it manifests itself can vary between individuals; however, there are a number of common signs, including:
- Dysregulation, where the individual can have severe difficulty managing their emotions.
- Upset, anger, emotional outbursts and anxiety as a result of demands being asked of the person.
- Distraction, where the autistic individual becomes increasingly skilled at avoiding requests, particularly through excessive negotiation.
- School refusal, where a child has persistent difficulty in attending their place of education.
- Being overly comfortable in role play, or even obsessional about relationships.
Supporting Individuals with Demand Avoidance
Though Demand Avoidance can be complex and controversial, when it comes to support, it’s important not to lose sight of what is going on in the lives of the young people and their families. There are a number of techniques and strategies which can be employed to support a child with a PDA profile. These include:
Focus on working together on the task at hand rather than directly praising the person carrying out the task. This may seem counter-intuitive, but it takes the spotlight away from the young person, so it becomes less about the person and more about the task.
Consistency is key, and working closely with schools to reinforce strategies can help the young person feel they are part of a collaborative environment.
Rewarding small successes can help build trust and motivation.
Remaining patient and understanding when demands are resisted helps de-escalate situations and keeps the environment less stressful.
Find Out More
In a specially extended, two-part edition of our podcast, Autism Unpacked, we go deep into the detail of Demand Avoidance, looking at the impact on young people and their families and sharing insights into their experiences and challenges and strategies that may help, including building an understanding support network. Find the episode and the rest of the series here: www.optionsautism.co.uk/autism-unpacked-podcast/