According to the PDA Society, Pathological Demand Avoidance is currently thought to be 'a profile found within some autistic people'. I first started blogging about PDA over fifteen years ago, a few months after our younger daughter was diagnosed with autism. I wasn't aware of any audiobooks available back then, but today there are at least sixteen.
Autism as a more general, topline diagnosis didn't seem to fit our daughter particularly well at first glance but we instantly felt that she met all the criteria for the characteristics/features of PDA. The term PDA was not well known back then so it felt a bit like we were working our way through a maze, blindfolded. What helped most was: hearing from other parents who were experiencing similar reactions from their children, listening to the few professionals who were talking about PDA at conferences held by both the National Autistic Society and the PDA Society, and reading books.
There have now been more than 42 different books published around the topic of PDA. Most of those have pride of place on my bookshelves and several have been read more than once. There are many review posts on my blog and I created one post listing all of them with a short description of each.
For the full list, please see my post Books about PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance)
I have created this post to share the 16 published books from the list above that also exist as audiobooks.
* The pictures and underlined book titles in this post contain affiliate links - as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
I have always been a lover of paperback books, although I recently bought myself a Kindle for taking away on holiday and now I might be a total convert! I would love to tell you that audiobooks are amazing, but I have to be honest and say they are not for me... they make me fall asleep too easily.
But I know that audiobooks are the preferred option for many people, particularly those who don't have time to sit down with a book in hand (life is so busy these days, I think we can all relate to that). So for those of you who choose audiobooks, and who would like to learn more about Pathological Demand Avoidance, here's the list!
Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome in Children
Publication year: 2011
The earliest PDA book. Written by a team of four - Phil Christie, consultant child psychologist who worked with Professor Elizabeth Newson (British Developmental Psychologist who first proposed the term PDA in the 1980s), Margaret Duncan, GP and parent to a PDA child, Ruth Fidler, Assistant Head Teacher at a school for autistic pupils, and Zara Healy, journalist and parent to a PDA child.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon. (Also available as Audiobook).
Read my full review → here
Helping Your Child With PDA Live a Happier Life
Publication year: 2021
Drawing on experience of parenting a PDA child, the author describes how to create the type of environment that will allow children to be authentically themselves, thereby enabling them to flourish and thrive.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon.
Read my full review → here
Low Demand Parenting
Publication year: 2023
'Dropping Demands, Restoring Calm and Finding Connection with your Uniquely Wired Child' is the strapline and this describes precisely the whole ethos of the book - the aim being to help parents learn how to find ways to help the whole family thrive.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon. (Also available as Audiobook).
Read my full review → here
PDA in the Family
Publication year: 2024
An account of family life since the day our younger daughter was diagnosed with autism at the age of two, and the subsequent lightbulb moment when we heard about PDA. Includes experiences of challenges with education and a chapter written by our PDAers Dad.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon. (Also available as Audiobook).
Read more about our book → here
The Family Experience of PDA
Publication year: 2021
A great mixture of illustrations, depicting situations which take place in many PDA households, and text, describing in accessible and non-flowery language what is happening and why, and how best to react to or manage these occasions.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon. (Also available as Audiobook).
Read my full review → here
The Educator's Experience of Pathological Demand Avoidance
Publication year: 2023
Written by a specialist teacher who is now an education and autism consultant, this book is a clear and practical guide for any education professionals who are working with PDA learners.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon. (Also available as Audiobook).
Read my full review → here
The Kids' Simple Guide to PDA
Publication year: 2025
A gentle and engaging introduction to Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), designed especially for children. A safe starting point for children to learn about something that can sometimes feel confusing or difficult to talk about, highlighting different ways children can support their siblings or peers who have PDA.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon. (Also available as Audiobook).
Read my full review → here
The Parents' and Professionals' Simple Guide to PDA
Publication year: 2025
A short yet informative introductory guide written especially for parents, extended family members, and professionals who are supporting a PDA child. Includes the basics of PDA and how it can present in different children and it outlines the unique ways PDA may show itself in daily life, from situations at home to challenges in school or social settings. Also offers practical advice on how best to support PDAers.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon. (Also available as Audiobook).
Read my full review → here
PDA by PDAers
Publication year: 2018
This book brings together many thoughts, viewpoints and real, lived experience from a range of autistic adults who identify with the term Pathological Demand Avoidance.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon.
Read my review in my PDA books summary → here
Being Julia
Publication year: 2021
Co-written with Ruth Fidler, Julia's memoir covers life from a very young age right through adulthood. The book includes many examples of school and social experiences, with some earlier memories being provided by Julia's mum and old school reports.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon.
Read my full review → here
The Insider Guide to PDA
Publication year: 2026
Coming soon: PDAers Sally Cat and Brook Madera explain what PDA is, how it manifests, and how to minimise its impact. This book also considers interaction with other forms of neurodivergence, potential misdiagnosis as a multitude of other conditions and disorders, and also highlights the positives of PDA life.
Available to pre-order from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon.
Can You See Me?
Publication year: 2019
One in a set of four novels based on diary entries written by autistic 11-year old Libby Scott (co-author Rebecca Westcott). This book begins with the lead character, 11 year old Tally, preparing to start in Year 7 at a new secondary school. The story explores life at home and at school in equal measures - and shows the impact which one can have on the other.
Buy from Amazon. (Also available as Audiobook).
Read my review of these novels → here
Do You Know Me?
Publication year: 2020
Carries on where Can You See Me left off, with Tally in Year 7. It describes all the activity and emotions around a Year 7 residential trip - an event that many children look forward to, but that not all children find easy.
Buy from Amazon. (Also available as Audiobook).
Read my review of these novels → here
Saturdays At Noon
Publication year: 2020
The debut novel of Rachel Marks, a primary school teacher who also happens to be the mum of a son with Pathological Demand Avoidance. Told from the point of view of the three main characters, Emily, Jake and Alfie, the story is about life and love, and understanding.
Buy from Amazon. (Also available as Audiobook).
Read my full review → here
The Teacher's Introduction to Pathological Demand Avoidance
Publication year: 2021
Written by a teacher in special needs schools and alternative provisions who specialised in autism for over ten years. Her experience of working with PDA students, both in a classroom and in a more flexible environment, is invaluable and the book shares much of her learning and ideas for strategies that could work in a classroom.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon. (Also available as Audiobook).
Read my full review → here
Navigating PDA in America
Publication year: 2024
An up-to-date source of all the information about PDA that is currently available, created for people in America. Written by Ruth Fidler and Diane Gould, a clinical social worker based in Illinois and founder of the PDA North America group.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon. (Also available as Audiobook).
Read my full review → here
Declarative Language Handbook
Publication year: 2020
This is not a PDA specific book, but it is a book which many in the PDA community have found very helpful. Written by a speech and language pathologist with the aim of to helping everyone learn how to use everyday moments to teach and guide a child's social development.
Buy from Amazon. (Also available as Audiobook).
Read my full review → here
I know that many sales of our book, PDA in the Family, came in the form of the audiobook. More audiobooks sold than would typically be expected for a book like this, I've been told. I'm not sure why that is... maybe it was the promise of my Northern accent contrasting with the Southern accent of my husband Mr C?!
If you are an auditory learner, you may be interested in my suggestions of other PDA resources that fall under this category. Podcasts, YouTube videos, radio shows and more. See my post Podcasts and videos about Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and Neurodiversity
With the standard plan from Audible you can listen to one free book a month and access unlimited podcasts, or with their Premium Plus offering you can have one free book a month to keep forever as well as many free audiobooks and exclusive discounts. Both plans can be cancelled at any time during the month so you are not locked in. A 30 days free trial of either can be accessed by choosing one of the books above or by registering here: Audible trial sign-up
* The pictures and underlined book titles in this post contain affiliate links - as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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