Does Your Autistic Child Have PDA? (Screening Test)

By OptimistMinds
Page last updated: 22/01/2024 | Next review date: 22/01/2026

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This PDA Autism test is developed for the screening purpose and is not at all diagnostic. This test needs to be filled by the parents for the screening and assessment.

PDA autism test

Instructions for the Test

Please make sure to mark each question item, on the basis of how much your child behaves in a certain way by rating the degree on 1-3-point scale.

Age of your children:

1. S/he tries to avoid the usual demands and requests.

 

2. S/he excuse any task or request by sharing physical limitation or illness.

 

3. S/he wants to be the controlling in situations.

 

4. S/he gets extremely annoyed and stressful by the daily tasks and responsibilities (e.g. going to school etc).

 

5. S/he is good in understanding the rules and apply them to others and exclude self from the application of those rules.

 

6. S/he copies the mannerisms and style of elders to show off.

 

7. Has difficulty complying with demands unless they are carefully presented.

 

8. S/he tries to act on roles or characters and ‘acts them out’

 

9. S/he has a minimum sense of shame or embarrassment.

 

10. S/he creates new fiction or fantasy worlds or games and acts them out.

 

11. S/he is good in influencing and persuading others.

 

12. S/he is unable to understand the difference between authority figures and themselves (e.g. parents, teachers, police).

 

13. S/he will not tolerate pressure and if forced to do something will have a ‘meltdown’.

 

14. S/he likes acknowledgement and appreciation.

 

15. S/he has rapid mood shifts.

 

16. S/he has a clear understanding of what to say to upset people.

 

17. S/he easily pick blaming targets.

 

18. S/he would make efforts to deny the faulty behaviour they have committed.

 

19. S/he seems distracted from within.

 

20. S/he tries to maintain a good reputation among peers.

 

21. Uses outrageous or shocking behaviour to get out of doing something.

 

22. S/he sometimes experiences extreme emotional response to minimum arousals.

 

23. S/he wants to have social interaction on their own terms.

 

24. S/he wants to interact with others in a taken role, or communicate through symbols/toys.

 

25. S/he tries to negotiate better terms with adults.

 

26. S/he was passive and difficult to engage as an infant.

 

 

Final Result : 

What is PDA Autism?

The PDA autism,

Pathological Avoidance of Demand (PDA) is a developmental disorder that is different from autism which falls within the spectrum. It is a pervasive developmental condition (meaning autism affects all developmental areas) and was first described in 2003 by Elizabeth Newson, although it is not yet known in many methods used to diagnose autism.

It is a complex, challenging and misunderstood condition that many professionals often ignore or even fail to recognize. It should be remembered that methods that may not be successful in PDA cases for learners with autistic spectrum disorders.

A need to resist natural, regular demands made by others This resistance seems to be a way to manage acute anxiety Unlike those with autism, learners with PDA may use social skills to manipulate; however, these skills are more practical and rational than deeper emotional.

Difference Between PDA and Autism Spectrum

Young people with PDA are less likely to:

have caused anxiety to their parents before the age of 18 months show stereotypical motor mannerisms showing echolalia or pronoun reversal speech abnormalities showing compulsive adherence to routines.

Young people with PDA are more likely:

Resisting demands obsessively (100%) being socially deceptive (100% at age 5) show normal eye contact showing extreme mood lability and impulsiveness showing social mimicry (including gesture) showing role play (more detailed and complete than mimicry) showing other forms of symbolic play being female (50%)

Description of the Test

This PDA autism test is developed on the basis of research done by Nions. This test is not diagnostic and can be used for information only, further consultation with the mental health professional will be recommended if required.

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