Autism, PDA and why getting a diagnosis gives relief, with Caroline Foran

Welcome back to Everymum the podcast, I'm Aisling Keenan. When you imagine what parenting will look like, you tend to picture something linear: milestones ticked off, routines falling into place, a general sense that even when things are hard, they’re at least a bit predictable. But for many parents, that couldn’t be further from the reality. Today’s conversation is about what happens when the script you thought you were following no longer applies and how you find your footing when you’re navigating something far more complex, and far less understood. I’m joined by my lovely friend Caroline Foran, author and journalist, who’s here to talk about her experience parenting her son, and the journey to understanding his autism and PDA profile. PDA stands for Pathological Demand Avoidance, a term that, for many, is still unfamiliar, and often misunderstood. In this episode, Caroline shares the long and sometimes frustrating process of seeking answers, and how a diagnosis can bring both clarity and a whole new set of questions. We talk about the emotional reality behind the labels: the guilt, the doubt, the advocacy, and the constant recalibration that comes with parenting a neurodivergent child. We also get into what PDA actually means in day-to-day life, why traditional parenting strategies often don’t work, and how shifting your approach can transform not just your child’s experience, but your relationship with them too. This is a conversation about letting go of expectations, learning to see your child for who they are, and finding a different kind of confidence as a parent, one that’s built not on control, but on understanding. Here’s Caroline, and I'll be back next week with more Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Autism, PDA and why getting a diagnosis gives relief, with Caroline Foran is an episode from everymum by Cormac Cahill.

This episode is 53:05 long.

This episode was published on Apr 21, 2026.

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