| Children with ODD need to learn to take | | | | settings, but may be more noticeable at |
| responsibility for their behavior and | | | | home or at school. Five to fifteen |
| not use their diagnosis or disability as | | | | percent of all school-age children have |
| an excuse for inappropriate behavior. | | | | ODD. Biological and environmental |
| They need help learning how to: | | | | factors may have a role. |
| · Set limits | | | | Oppositional defiant disorder appears to |
| · Curb sibling fighting | | | | be more common in families where at |
| · Stop defiance, back-talking, lying | | | | least one parent has a history of a mood |
| and cursing | | | | disorder, conduct disorder, attention |
| · Defuse explosive outbursts and | | | | deficit/hyperactivity disorder, |
| uncontrolled anger | | | | antisocial personality disorder, or a |
| · Stay on task | | | | substance-related disorder. |
| · Do homework and chores | | | | Oppositional Defiant Disorder does not |
| · Effective problem solving techniques | | | | occur alone: |
| If their "acting out" has carried on for | | | | · 50-65% of ODD children also have ADD |
| a long period of time and goes against | | | | ADHD |
| what is socially acceptable, then your | | | | · 35% of these children develop some |
| teen probably has a behavioral disorder. | | | | form of affective disorder |
| If your teen is self-destructive and | | | | · 20% have some form of mood disorder, |
| adversely affects your family, then his | | | | such as Bipolar Disorder or anxiety |
| or her behavior is clearly a problem. | | | | · 15% develop some form of personality |
| Symptoms of ODD include the following | | | | disorder |
| behaviors: | | | | · Many of these children have learning |
| · losing their temper | | | | disorders |
| · arguing | | | | Teens with ODD plus ADHD are much more |
| · defying authority | | | | difficult to live with. Their |
| · refusing adult requests or rules | | | | destructive and disagreeable behavior is |
| · deliberately annoying others | | | | purposeful. They like to push their |
| · blaming others for their own mistakes | | | | parents anger-buttons. Every request |
| or misbehavior | | | | ends up as a power struggle. Lying |
| · being touchy or easily annoyed | | | | becomes a daily habit. Getting a |
| · being angry and resentful | | | | reaction out of others is amusing to |
| · being spiteful or vindictive | | | | them. They are rarely sorry for the |
| · swearing or using bad language | | | | hurtful things they say and do. And they |
| · moody and easily frustrated | | | | believe nothing is their fault. |
| · truancy from school (dropped out or | | | | Parenting strategies often include a |
| expelled) | | | | home rules contract (i.e., a written set |
| · increased involvement with, and | | | | of expectations that parents have of |
| loyalty to, delinquent peer groups | | | | their teens and preteens). The contract |
| · greater isolation from other peers, | | | | includes basic rules, consequences and |
| family members | | | | privileges. |
| · stealing, shoplifting, running away, | | | | The primary purpose of a home rules |
| alcohol and/or drug abuse, sexual | | | | contract is for teens to be held |
| promiscuity | | | | accountable for their behavior while |
| · problems with low self-esteem, low | | | | allowing parents to maintain a |
| self-confidence, and/or depression | | | | reasonable amount of control (i.e., |
| The causes of ODD are unknown, but many | | | | teaching teens that there are |
| parents report that their ODD child was | | | | consequences for breaking rules, the |
| more rigid and demanding than the | | | | knowledge of which hopefully will |
| child's siblings from an early age. The | | | | transfer in the teen's mind to school |
| symptoms are usually seen in multiple | | | | rules as well as the legal system). |