Demand avoidance is a natural human behavior. To some degree, we all avoid doing things asked of us. We might avoid doing the dishes when our partner asks because the chore feels tedious or ...

Pathological demand avoidance (PDA) is an extreme resistance to everyday demands, such as getting dressed or brushing the teeth. Researchers often associate PDA with autism, especially in children.

This story is from The Pulse, a weekly health and science podcast. Find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Stella, 4, is smart, funny and has a lot of energy. Her verbal ...