Category: Disabilities

PDA – a new type of disorder?

Posted on by Gregory Wood

by Richard Woods

A few years ago there was a short exchange regarding the nature of the proposed disorder Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). Clinically, PDA superficially appears similar to autism, due its having surface sociability and several anxiety-based restricted and repetitive behaviours and interests (RRBIs), which centre on obsessive demand avoidance. Persons with PDA can also have atypical language development and speech delay. Initially, Rebecca McElroy explored the possibility it is a form of Attachment Disorder. Hilary Dyer countered that we should consider if PDA is a form of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In my view, there is little justification for viewing PDA as an ASD profile, and a good case to view its behaviours as associated with environmental factors or trauma. read more

The Boring Back & Forth of Social Interactions: Advice from People with ADHD

Posted on by Gregory Wood

by Cynthia Hammer

Note: the following is a collection of perspectives from different people with ADHD. The * indicates another person’s input. 

This article was of interest to me because I did have people tell me over the years that I did not have good social skills. I at times struggle with small talk.   – Greg

Social Interactions & ADHD: Why We Get Bored 

*Small talk can be profoundly boring. The older you get, the more this is true. Truly, it is hard to find people who “match” in terms of what they find stimulating.

*Yesterday I talked with a friend who also has ADHD about how typical conversations go.   One person says his whole monologue and then the other person says her whole monologue. The monologue-ing gets so boring it is hard for us to stay engaged.

We prefer conversations where people interrupt with interesting tidbits as this makes the conversation more engaging and exciting.  Our preferred way of communicating is perfectly acceptable although there are settings where we need to reel in our enthusiasms and engage in more socially acceptable ways

*The more I work on conversation skills, the more I find the “take turns to dump” style grating, It’s hard to follow the conversation and contribute anything meaningful.  My brain wanders off when I try to sit and wait my turn! read more