The ADHD and ODD Link in Children
“[Kids with ADHD] misbehave not because they’re intentionally oppositional, but because they can’t control their impulses.” Grasping the link between ADHD and ODD will help you understand, and treat, your child’s behavioral problems.
Symptoms of Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
- Chronic aggression
- Frequent outbursts
- A tendency to argue
- A tendency to ignore requests
- A tendency to engage in intentionally annoying behavior
Oppositional Defiant Disorder in Children
- About half of all preschoolers diagnosed with ODD outgrow the problem by age 8.
- If left untreated, oppositional behavior can evolve into conduct disorder and more serious behavioral problems.
Learn more about Oppositional Defiant Disorder in Adults here.
ADHD-ODD Link
40 percent of children with attention deficit disorder (ADHD) also develop oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).
- Some experts suggest that ODD may be tied to ADHD-related impulsivity. “Many kids with ADHD who are diagnosed with ODD are showing oppositional characteristics by default,” says Houston-based child psychologist Carol Brady, Ph.D. “They misbehave not because they’re intentionally oppositional, but because they can’t control their impulses.”
- Other experts suggest that ODD is a way for kids to cope with the frustration and emotional pain associated with having ADHD.
[Self-Test: Oppositional Defiant Disorder in Children]
Treating ADHD and ODD
Step One: Make sure your child’s ADHD is under control. Typically, a doctor will put a child on a regimen of ADHD medication, which, in some cases, can also reduce ODD symptoms.
Step Two: Employ behavior modification techniques to help manage the condition.
Step Three: In severe cases, a child may need to see a family therapist trained in childhood behavior problems. It’s a good idea for the therapist to also screen your child for anxiety, mood disorder, and BPD, all of which can cause ODD.
How to Parent a Child with Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Parent management training — in which parents learn to change the way they react to their child’s behavior— is often highly effective in treating ODD. Between weekly sessions, the parents practice what they’ve learned from the therapist and report back on their progress.
Keep the following in mind when starting a parent management training program:
1) Accentuate the Positive
Positive reinforcement is the heart and soul of parent management training.
- Don’t yell at or spank a child for bad behavior.
- Instead, teach through good example and positive feedback.
[Free Download: The 15 Day Fix to Stop Defiant Behavior in its Tracks]
2) Enthusiasm Counts
Parents should be enthusiastic when praising their child with ODD.
- Specify the praiseworthy behavior.
- Include some non-verbal gesture in your enthusiastic praise. For example, you might say, “It was wonderful the way you played so quietly while I was on the phone!” and then give your child a kiss.
- Tailor rewards and punishments to your child’s specific abilities and needs…
- But remember that consistency in the way you treat your child — the way you set rules and convey expectations — is the key to cleaning up a child’s act.
[More Than Just Naughty: How to Deal with Oppositional Defiant Disorder]
A Helpful Book About ODD
The Defiant Child: A Parent’s Guide to Oppositional Defiant Disorder (#CommissionsEarned)
by Douglas Riley, Ph.D.
“These children are most comfortable when they’re in the middle of a conflict. As soon as you begin arguing with them, you’re on their turf. They keep throwing out the bait, and their parents keep taking it—until the parents end up with the kid in family therapy, wondering where they’ve gone wrong.”
#CommissionsEarned As an Amazon Associate, ADDitude earns a commission from qualifying purchases made by ADDitude readers on the affiliate links we share. However, all products linked in the ADDitude Store have been independently selected by our editors and/or recommended by our readers. Prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication
