Dr. Lauren featured as an expert panelist about Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) on A World of Difference, a collaboration between PBS and Beacon College.
From the segment description: Into every parent’s life, a child will eventually say the word no. It’s expected, developmental, and usually short lived. Except when it isn’t. For a growing number of parents, “no” becomes the soundtrack of daily life. Even simple requests—getting dressed, starting homework, brushing teeth—can spark intense resistance. Many families are now turning to a term they feel captures this extreme, persistent pushback: Pathological Demand Avoidance, or PDA. Yet PDA is controversial. It isn’t an official diagnosis, and experts debate whether it reflects a distinct autism profile or a child’s attempt to cope with overwhelming anxiety. But families living this reality share a truth: their children aren’t trying to be difficult—they’re trying to feel safe. And when parents shift from “You have to” to “How can we make this doable?”, conflict eases and connection grows.
On this episode, our national leaders help us untangle the controversy, the science, and the lived experience behind PDA.
Watch the PBS episode here. Watch the full Ask the Experts segment here.