Demand Avoidance Decoded with Libby Hill

Enjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textWhat actually is PDA?Speech and language therapist Libby Hill cuts through the confusion with clarity and compassion, drawing on decades of clinical experience and her work with leading PDA researchers."There's demand avoidance, and then there's PDA," Libby explains, highlighting the crucial differences that parents and professionals often miss. While many children resist external demands for logical reasons—sensory discomfort, lack of interest, or burnout—true PDA involves an illogical resistance even to things the person wants to do. This distinction isn't just academic; it fundamentally changes how we should support these children.Libby and I discuss the struggles parents face when it comes to PDA. The shame, isolation, and burnout experienced when supporting a child or young person with a PDA profile. "Who do you confide in?" she asks, highlighting how parents frequently suffer in silence, afraid to share their reality even with close family. Whether you're a parent seeking answers, a professional enhancing your knowledge, or someone who suspects they might have a PDA profile themselves, this conversation provides invaluable insights. People and support that were discussed in the episode:Sally Cat: https://www.facebook.com/SallyCatPDAPDA Society website: https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/ and helpline: https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/support-and-training/Libby mentions the PDA practice guidelines which you can find here: https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/research-professional-practice/identification-and-diagnosis-process/You can find Libby here: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInAnd her new book "Born Naughty"Support the show