Children with ODD are uncooperative, defiant, and hostile toward peers, parents, teachers, and other authority figures. Developmental problems may cause ODD. Or the behaviors may be learned. A child with ODD may argue a lot with adults or refuse to do what they ask.
Even the best-behaved students occasionally can be difficult. But kids and teens who display a continual pattern of tantrums, arguing, and angry or disruptive behavior toward teachers, parents, or other authority figures may have oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).
For some students with ODD, reading, writing, maths and concentrating can be hard. Some may also have language delays and find talking about emotions difficult. Students with ODD can have trouble communicating, and making friends. It is also common for students with ODD to have low self-esteem.
Be Calm and Consistent: As a new teacher, Parrish says she quickly learned that reacting with anger when her students with ODD acted out made the behavior worse and students became “amused or encouraged by upsetting an adult.” Instead, Parrish recommends trying to keep a positive tone to your voice, adopting neutral ...
Research has suggested that ODD cases are often comorbid to cases of ASD, but due to the difficulty of assessing similar symptoms and attributing the different motivations that underly an ODD diagnosis, it is enormously difficult for clinicians to separate the two.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
CBT works for many mental health conditions by teaching you to replace challenging thoughts and behaviors with those that are positive and constructive. CBT works as ODD treatment by replacing symptoms like defiance and irritability with calming thoughts and positive strategies.
Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a type of childhood disruptive behavior disorder that primarily involves problems with the self-control of emotions and behaviors.
Lack of structure or parental supervision, inconsistent discipline practices, and exposure to abuse or community violence have also been identified as factors which may contribute to the development of ODD.
The traditional criteria suggest that a person only has ODD if she is extremely difficult in all areas of life: at school, at home, in public, and with peers. More recently, medical professionals have recongized that certain children with ODD may behave well at school, and only show symptoms at home.
It was once believed that those affected by the condition would outgrow it by early adulthood. However, children with ODD do not always outgrow the condition. For this reason, treatment is crucial to avoid long-term consequences such as the development of antisocial personality disorder later on in life.
Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a childhood behavioural problem characterised by constant disobedience and hostility. The quality of parenting seems to be an important factor in the development of ODD. Treatment options include parent management training and family therapy.
ODD and (although to a lesser extent) ADHD were associated with a history of physical or sexual maltreatment. PTSD symptoms were most severe if (a) ADHD and maltreatment co-occurred or (b) ODD and accident/illness trauma co-occurred.
Symptoms of ODD generally begin during preschool years. Sometimes ODD may develop later, but almost always before the early teen years. Oppositional and defiant behaviors are frequent and ongoing. They cause severe problems with relationships, social activities, school and work, for both the child and the family.
Remember that your ODD child will resist new consequences as much as they can. They will argue, blame, guilt-trip and flat-out refuse to comply. This is normal ODD behavior. In order for your child to learn how to function as an adult, you must commit to enforcing fail-proof consequences.
Only a medical doctor or suitably qualified mental health professional can diagnose ODD. They will likely want to talk to both you and your child, and may also want to assess your child at school and speak to your child's teachers, in order to help them understand as fully as possible what may be going on.
Do Not Take ODD Personally. It is difficult for a parent to remain calm when a child with ODD is verbally abusing her, but don't overreact. Yelling or spanking may worsen a child's oppositional behaviors. Stay calm and emotionally neutral amid your child's defiance.
If untreated, ODD may lead to anxiety, depression, or a more serious disorder called conduct disorder. A child or teen with conduct disorder may harm or threaten people or animals, damage property or engage in serious violations of rules.
This disorder is often accompanied by other serious mental health disorders, and, if left untreated, can develop into conduct disorder (CD), a more serious disruptive behavior disorder. Children with ODD who are not treated also are at an increased risk for substance abuse and delinquency.
Individual Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for ODD
It can provide positive alternative behaviors to replace defiant ones. This type of therapy works best when it begins early in life, when family and social interactions aren't ingrained and difficult to change.