What Is Oppositional Defiance Disorder?

Is your child’s poor behavior ODD, or are they just going through a phase? As a parent it can be hard to know. Here is some information to help.

What is ODD?
ODD is oppositional defiance disorder, and it is a disorder characterized by defiant and oppositional behavior. Of course, kids are usually oppositional from time to time, and just because your child talks back, argues, or defies you does not mean they have ODD. However, when it is so often and consistent that it stands out when compared to other children of the same age, and when it affects their social, family, and academic life, it might be a real problem.

Usually kids with ODD have a patterns of behaviors that could be classified as oppositional, defiant, uncooperative, and even hostile, especially when dealing with authority figures. The following is a list of ODD symptoms:

• Regular temper tantrums
• Arguing with adults, often in excess
• Questions rules, regardless of who puts them in place.
• Active defiance
• Refusal to comply with requests and rules from adults
• Being annoying deliberately
• Spiteful or revenge seeking
• Blames others for their mistakes and behaviors
• Touchy or easily upset by others
• Frequent anger
• Frequent resentment
• Mean or hateful when upset

Your child’s tantrums may be more than just a phase.

Usually when a child has ODD their behavior is severe enough that you notice it in multiple settings. It may occur at home and at school, at church, and at play. It is frequently the case in children who can’t be happy or comply regardless of the situation.

ODD is not as uncommon as it may seem, in fact, up to 16% of school aged children may have ODD. What causes this defiant disorder? It is unknown, but biological and psychological, as well as social factors may be to blame.

Many parents of kids diagnosed with ODD report that the behavior was evident from a very young age, which leads many to believe that it is not social or nurturing that causes this problem, but something biological.

So, if your child is extremely defiant, and it is to the point where it is really noticeable that they are far more defiant than your other children, or other children their age, you may want to take them in to see if they are ODD. What can be done about it? There are behavioral therapists and medications specifically used to help combat some of the problems associated with ODD. Of course, there is not a quick fix, rather a long term plan to help children with ODD learn how to behave in more appropriate manners. It takes consistency on the part of the parent, child, and therapist to reach success.

It may not just be a phase, it may be ODD, especially if they never seem to grow out of their oppositional phase.