The wife of Harry Judd, Izzy, has revealed that one of their children has been diagnosed with a condition and said it has been “one of the most challenging experiences”.

Izzy and McFly star Harry are proud parents to three children: Lola, eight and sons Kit, seven and Lockie, three.

Izzy Judd, a talented musician and author, opened up about the diagnosis during a moving interview on Stompcast with Dr. Alex George. She revealed that one of her children has been diagnosed with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) — a profile within the autism spectrum characterized by extreme anxiety when faced with everyday demands or expectations.

The condition can make even simple requests, like asking a child to get dressed or brush their teeth, feel overwhelming and distressing. For Izzy, understanding and adapting to this reality has been both painful and transformative.

She spoke candidly about the daily challenges of raising a child with PDA, explaining that traditional parenting techniques often do not apply. “It means I can’t always speak directly or make requests in the way most parents can,” she shared.

“I’ve had to completely change how I communicate — not out of weakness or lack of discipline, but out of love and necessity.” Izzy described how she now uses indirect language and creative approaches to reduce anxiety triggers, helping her child feel more in control of their environment.

To outsiders, Izzy admitted, her parenting style might look unconventional — even permissive. “People might think I’m being too lenient or that I’m not setting enough boundaries,” she said, “but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Every day is a balancing act between compassion, patience, and gentle guidance. It’s about creating a world that feels safe for my child.” Her words highlight the deep misunderstanding many families face when raising children with invisible conditions like PDA.

The diagnosis, Izzy explained, has reshaped how she views parenting altogether. She likened her role to that of a detective — constantly observing, learning, and adjusting based on how her child reacts to different situations.

“I’ve learned to spot the signs of anxiety before they escalate,” she said. “It’s like tuning into a frequency that only parents in this position can hear. You become hypersensitive to the little cues that others might miss.”

Recently though, Izzy shared that one of their children was diagnosed neurodivergent, and opened up about how she has adapted her parenting to cater to the condition.

They are parents to three children (Credit: SplashNews.com)
Harry Judd’s wife reveals child’s diagnosis

This week, Izzy appeared on Dr Alex George’s Stompcast podcast, where she revealed that one of their kids suffers from Pathological Demand Avoidance, and said it has been “one of the most challenging experiences”.

This emotional journey inspired Izzy to launch her new podcast, Let’s Talk Neurodivergent Kids, where she aims to provide a platform for open, honest conversations about neurodiversity. Through the podcast, she hopes to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and help other parents feel less isolated.

“When I first started learning about PDA,” she said, “I felt lost and alone. I didn’t know where to turn. I want other families to know they’re not alone — that there’s hope, support, and a community waiting for them.”

The diagnosis has also changed how Izzy views the concept of success and progress. “It’s not about milestones anymore,” she said. “It’s about moments — the moments when your child smiles, feels safe, or overcomes something that once felt impossible. Those moments mean everything.”

Her words capture the profound shift in perspective that many parents of neurodivergent children experience — a shift from conventional expectations to a celebration of individuality and authenticity.

Harry and Izzy’s openness has drawn widespread admiration from fans and fellow parents alike. Many have praised them for using their public platform to speak about an issue that remains misunderstood.

By sharing their story, the couple is helping to normalize discussions around neurodiversity, encouraging others to replace judgment with empathy. “No family is perfect,” Izzy said. “But love — unconditional love — can turn even the hardest days into something meaningful.”

Their story also underscores the growing importance of awareness about PDA and other forms of autism spectrum conditions. Experts note that early understanding and individualized support can make a profound difference in helping children thrive. Izzy’s message aligns with this — she hopes that by speaking out, she can help more families access the knowledge and resources they need without shame or fear.

PDA syndrome is a specific profile within the autism spectrum. Those that suffer with it typically demonstrate an extreme avoidance of demands. And even simple requests could trigger anxiety.

“Pathological demand avoidance is linked with autism and it’s basically about demands that are put on a child who underneath the demand has a lot of anxiety,” Izzy shared.

She added: “From the moment a child wakes up in the morning, they are being told to eat their breakfast, get dressed, brush your teeth. And all these anxieties are forming in them – that people are putting pressure and demands on them.”

Izzy candidly opened up (Credit: Giovanna Fletcher / YouTube)
‘A demand is too anxiety-provoking’

Izzy then said she has changed her parenting approach completely and admitted other people have have seen her methods as “lazy”.

She said: “They don’t respond to authority or hierarchy. They want autonomy, they want to be in control. If you flip it and go: ‘I’ve left your clothes out…’ I actually just don’t even say it any more.

“And I don’t ask many questions at all because that’s placing a demand, and a demand is too anxiety-provoking.”

She continued: “To the outsider looking in, they might see that as a sort of lazy parenting. Or a lack of discipline or whatever it is they want to say.”

“I kind of let go of being late a long time ago. The more pressure you feel – ‘You’ve got to go!’ – the more it’s going to slow everything down. Now I just shove them in the car, and if they’re cold, they’ll put on their coat. Once they feel the autonomy that they’re in control, amazing things happen.”

Izzy ‘felt judgement really heavily’

Izzy then noted: “There are quite rigid societal expectations of how children are supposed to behave. Initially, I felt the judgement really heavily. You have to go through a kind of grief process that things aren’t going to be as you thought they would be.

“For a neurodivergent child, they’re physically unable to sit. It’s not because they don’t want to – they can’t. But then, as a parent, you’re going: ‘I need to teach my child to sit at the table and say please and thank you.’ What if they can’t look at somebody? What if that makes them feel really uncomfortable?”

Harry Judd and his wife Izzy have long been admired for their honesty and openness about family life, but their most recent revelation has struck a deep emotional chord with fans. The couple, known for their warmth and devotion, have revealed that one of their children has received a life-changing diagnosis. This heartbreaking announcement marks a new and challenging chapter for the Judd family, testing their resilience and deepening their understanding of unconditional love.

Harry Judd, the McFly drummer and beloved pop icon, has been a steady source of strength through it all. Though he has been more private about the diagnosis, Izzy has spoken often about how deeply supportive he has been. Their bond, built over years of love, music, and mutual respect, has only grown stronger as they face this challenge together. Harry has spoken previously about how fatherhood changed him, and this new chapter appears to have deepened his commitment to his family even further.

The couple, who share three children — Lola, born in 2016, Kit, born in 2017, and Lockie, born in 2021 — have chosen not to disclose which of their children received the diagnosis. They explained that their focus is on creating an environment of understanding and respect rather than labels. “It’s not about singling out one child,” Izzy said. “It’s about recognizing that every child has their own way of seeing and experiencing the world.”

Still, the emotional toll has been immense. Izzy confessed that she went through a period of grief after learning about the diagnosis — grieving, not for her child, but for the expectations she had unconsciously built about what parenthood would look like. “You picture a future for your child before they’re even born,” she explained. “When that picture changes, it’s a kind of heartbreak. But it’s also an awakening. You start to see beauty in the small victories and strength in the struggles.”

In many ways, this new chapter in the Judds’ lives has reminded them of what truly matters. “It’s stripped everything back,” Izzy shared. “All the noise, all the expectations — none of it matters anymore. What matters is connection. What matters is making sure my child feels safe, loved, and accepted exactly as they are.”

As the Judd family continues to navigate this journey, their courage and openness have inspired countless others to do the same. Their willingness to share their story publicly transforms a deeply personal struggle into a message of hope and solidarity. For every parent who has felt misunderstood, for every child who has felt different, the Judds’ story is a reminder that acceptance is the greatest form of love.

Izzy’s honesty offers a powerful lesson — that even in heartbreak, there is strength. The path forward may be unpredictable, but it is illuminated by compassion, resilience, and the unwavering bond between parent and child. Through her vulnerability, she has not only given her family a voice but also created space for countless others to be heard. And in doing so, Izzy and Harry Judd have turned their family’s emotional crossroads into a beacon of empathy for families everywhere.