Tuesday, November 13, 2012

The Symptoms of Oppositional Defiant Disorder


Many kids suffer from being labeled as "bad kids". Unfortunately, this is a common problem with teachers, parents, and even some doctors that just don not have the tools to properly test these children for the right ailments. Millions of children are suffering today from the symptoms of Oppositional Defiant Disorder.

But what exactly is ODD? Some symptoms of the disorder are:

  • The child will not listen to adults
  • The child can be angry even resentful
  • The child is argumentative with adults
  • The child tends to blame other people for their mistakes
  • The child does not make or keep a lot of friends
  • The child gets into trouble frequently at school
  • The child has a bad temper
  • The child is somewhat spiteful in their actions
  • The child may be revengeful
  • The child can be described as vengeful
  • The child can be annoyed very quickly


Generally, it tends to develop by the time the child is at the age of eight. However, it can begin as early as four or five years old.  It effects boys more often than girls.

The type of children that are given this medical diagnosis are ones that have suffered from these symptoms for about six months in a row. Their behaviors have to be advancing past what is considered to be "normal" in the broad scheme of things. A specialist will need to evaluate them for a bit and put them on some form of plan to start clearing the brain from these thoughts. Most doctors will rebuild the children's thought process by having them enlist in therapy of some form. Many use sessions alone, while others have found that family counseling can be very effective. Specifically, the parent to child interaction sessions seem to greatly improve these children's lives. The therapists have ways of getting the parents and kids to work together toward this common family goal versus putting all of the blame on the child and leaving the work up to them.

Finally, try to have patience with your kids. This is a hard time for everyone involved from parents, to children to teachers and siblings in the home. Gather your game plan and sit down with the whole crew to discuss it. Go about your plans with the expectation that your child may not be game for it, but they must attend the therapy sessions or which ever route you ultimately decide on using. Try to emphasize that you are all doing this as team and also be sure to include his or her teachers at school with the future plans on correcting the behaviorism. Realize that it won't change overnight, but that it will change as time goes by in just a few weeks you should be seeing a mild difference.

3 comments:

  1. Boy I have run into a few children where I wondered if they suffered from more than just being a bad kid. Oppositional Defiant Disorder would definitely explain a lot.

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  2. Many street children here seem to have issues similar to described in this article. But to live on the street in Zambia and survive I suppose they would need that sort of attitude for their own protection.

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  3. A lot of the symptoms you describe here sound very similar to those children with fetal alcohol syndrome. I wonder if there is any kind of connection?

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