What Is ODD?

ODD is a mental health disorder in which a child demonstrates aggression and purposeful misbehavior. Thought to affect roughly 10 to 20% of school-age children, this behavior disorder is more common in boys than in girls. When thinking about these behaviors, it’s important to realize that many children without ODD exhibit some of these behaviors from time to time. So what are normal behavior problems and what are not? Symptoms of ODD in contrast to normal child behaviors may include:

Being easily annoyed or provokedExcessive arguing with parents and other authority figuresFrequent angry outburstsFrustration and lack of concentration for the child, along with a reduced self-esteem and difficulty forming and keeping friendshipsLying and blaming others for mistakesPurposefully irritating and annoying others and intentionally causing conflictQuestioning authorityRefusal to follow rulesSeeming to lack a conscienceVindictiveness, being spiteful of others

These symptoms can vary from mild to severe, but usually, arise during the preschool years and almost always before puberty. The behaviors often create significant dysfunction at both homes and in the school setting. Fortunately, while these behaviors can cause havoc for parents and teachers, around two-thirds of children out-grow their disorder in their late teens. It’s not known exactly what causes ODD but is most likely a combination of factors. Genetics can play a role and may increase susceptibility to the disorder. Abnormal levels of neurotransmitters in the brain may play a biochemical role. While ODD can develop in children from loving and stable families, it’s not uncommon for these children to have had a dysfunctional home life and/or exposure to violence. ODD may occur along with other conditions, such as attention deficit disorder (ADD), anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and language disorders. Sometimes it takes some time to distinguish between ODD and other common behavioral disorders in children such as ADD/ADHD and conduct disorder.

What to Do After an ODD Diagnosis

When your child is first diagnosed with ODD, it’s helpful to learn as much as you can about the disorder. Not only will this help you learn methods for coping with the behaviors, but it can be reassuring to learn that the majority of children outgrow the disorder. Knowing this alone may give you more strength to cope with difficult behaviors today. Parenting programs can be extremely helpful in getting you up-to-date on how to parent a child with ODD quickly. Some of these include:

Collaborative and Proactive Solutions Parent-Child Interaction Therapy The Incredible Years

Depending on who diagnosed your child, you may also need to find a therapist who can walk beside you as you learn tools for managing your child’s behavior. Therapy has been found to work well for children with ODD and also reduces the chance that ODD will progress to conduct disorder later in childhood or antisocial personality disorder as an adult. You can ask your doctor or therapist if she knows of anyone who specializes in treating children with ODD or ask in one of the online support communities. Parents who have been living with a child with ODD have often learned by trial and error and may offer you valuable tips in finding the right person. Most commonly, it will be a child or adolescent psychiatrist who cares for a child with ODD. Don’t be afraid to interview different providers. It’s important that you find an ally who can support you in helping your child.

How to Prepare Your Child’s School

If your child is in school, it’s important to meet with your child’s teacher or others at the school who will be involved in his education. Combining a school-based program with positive parenting at home is most effective. Special education services can provide support and accommodations for your child. The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law which mandates that children with disabilities be provided with services to allow him to function in the school setting. This usually requires that the disorder impairs his academic performance. You can request an evaluation for your child at any time. If your child does not qualify for IDEA (usually under the “other health impaired” category) he may still qualify for an individual accommodation plan under Section 504. You may also wish to contact your school district, State Department of Education, or your state Parent Training and Information Center.

Disciplining an ODD Child

You may have read everything you can get your hands on, but how do you discipline a child with ODD? Having a child with ODD can grate on your nerves, but despite ample opportunities to give negative attention, finding opportunities to give positive attention can really help. Even though negative consequences will likely be needed at times, positive attention is often more effective. Thankfully, these “positive” consequences seem to make negative consequences more effective when needed. Avoiding harsh punishment and focusing on behaviors rather than the child is also helpful. The programs listed above provide many examples for working with a child with ODD.

Treatment Options for ODD

As noted above, therapy is often very effective for children with ODD and may prevent the condition from progressing to conduct disorder or antisocial personality disorder. Of note, there are not any specific medications recommended for ODD, and medications alone should not be used to treat the condition. Medications may be helpful, however, in controlling some of the behaviors or for coexisting mental health conditions.

Cognitive problem-solving skills trainingFamily therapyMedicationsParent management trainingSchool-based programsSocial skills programs

Living With an ODD Child

Living with a child with ODD can leave you on the edge and frustrated. It can be challenging to back up and view the behaviors as separate from your child and to stay calm. Here are a few tips that have helped other parents cope with the day-to-day challenges of living with a child with ODD.

Avoid power struggles.Don’t sweat the small stuff. It might be best to ignore minor behavioralproblems until you get the major problems controlled. Said in anotherway, “pick your battles.“Establish clear household rules.Give your child plenty of time for imaginative play.Limit the number of questions you ask your child.Offer clear consequences, and be aware that consequences are not the same as punishment.Praise your child often.Provide positive feedback often, even if your child responds in a positive way on a minor issue. Reinforcing the behavior with positive attention may reduce the amount of negative attention their behavior requires.Schedule daily doses of one-on-one time.“Walk the walk:” Model positive behaviors for your children to observe.

Getting Professional Help

Even if you follow all of the tips above for parenting a child with ODD, you may still feel overwhelmed. Take a moment to think about when you should seek help for your child’s behavior problems. If your child’s behavior problems aren’t changing when you incorporate discipline strategies, if their behavior is interfering with school or their social life, or if their behavior is not age-appropriate, it’s likely time to seek help.

Helpful ODD Resources for Parents

There are lots of resources available to help parents manage their child’s ODD. Here are some places to start looking.

Websites

Websites that offer ideas for parents who have a child with ODD include:

DocSpeak offers further information which directly pertains to parents of children living with ODD. Lives in the Balance is another site which helps assist children in collaborative problem-solving. Transforming the Difficult Child is designed to help children manage their intensity in different ways.

ODD is usually diagnosed in the preschool years or shortly thereafter, and for many children resolves by the age of 18. That said, combining “normal” teen issues with the management of ODD can be a challenge. The following site focuses on difficult behavior in teens, including ODD:

Teens with Problems

There are a few reference sites which provide good overviews of ODD diagnosis and treatment. The sites mentioned here have information provided by those educated in managing children with ODD and are updated frequently. Reliable references sites include:

American Academy of Child & Adult Psychiatry Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

As noted earlier, ODD often co-exists with other disorders such as ADD. At times, the management of ODD is similar to that of ADD, but other times it’s important to distinguish between the two diagnoses. These sites focused on ADD may offer assistance when your child has ODD as a co-existing condition.

ADDitude Magazine National Resource Center on AD/HD

Books

In addition to websites, podcasts, and Youtube videos, there are entire books devoted to helping parents cope with and care for a child with ODD. Books which may be helpful include:

The Defiant Child, by Douglas Riley (published in 1997 but still very up-to-date)The Explosive Child, by Ross W. GreeneThe Kazdin Method for Parenting the Defiant Child, by Alan E. Kazdin

Support for Parents

Having the opportunity to talk with other parents living with a child with ODD can be priceless. No matter how thoughtful and understanding your family and friends, there is something special about talking with others who are facing the same challenges. In addition to emotional support, online support communities can help you learn about the latest findings and approaches to managing ODD. After all, there is nobody more motivated to understand day-to-day life for a child with ODD more than other parents. Online support groups allow you to get understanding and advice from other parents around the world. There are a number of other online groups as well as Facebook groups designed to connect parents who are living with a child who has ODD.

A Word From Verywell

Learning that your child has ODD can release a mass of mixed emotions. You may be relieved to finally have a label for your child’s behavior but at the same time fear what this means for the future. As parents, the diagnosis can also make you question your own parenting skills. Yet a sense of guilt and shaming is counterproductive to learning how to meet your child’s needs. There are many children raised in warm and loving family environments who nonetheless suffer from ODD. Once you have a diagnosis you can finally begin to address the behaviors. Talk to your doctor. Find a good child or adolescent psychiatrist. Become involved in support groups. Rest just a bit in the realization that the majority of children “outgrow” these behaviors. That said, therapy can go a long way in reducing the chance your child’s behaviors will persist. Explore the tips above, and use the resources and links provided to educate and empower yourself as a parent of a child with ODD.