Oppositional Defiance Disorder.
Is it real? My 4yo DS is argumentative, constant, aggressive, plays rough- can also be the cutest, cheekiest, sweetest little thing.
Paed thinks ODD. I think, he’s just naughty, the youngest of 3 and pushing his boundaries.
Would love to hear any stories or insight.
Can this be fixed, does it go away?
The kinder teachers are already frustrated with his aggression and I don’t have a remedy to share with them.
Thankyou in advance.
11 Replies
Yes it’s real, find a good behavioural psychologist to help with diagnosis and therapy.
One thing we had to realise was no negotiation be he will push and push for more if he thinks he can get an inch. We use “first, then” tactics. My sons aggression is usually from anxiety or frustration from lack of recognition. Watch carefully for the aggressive triggers to let the therapists know.
This will probably cause a big shit storm because some people think it’s BS and other’s whose children have it believe it’s real.
I think there’s a lot of labels that extend from a lot of other diagnosis’ to make up new disorders or to label kids who don’t fit anywhere else on the spectrum. Do I believe in ODD? Not the disorder itself, but I do think there could be explanations for such behaviours. Diet is one massive thing to look at, processed food, high sugar, food dye - I’ve seen first hand with my husband and son just how much this effects their behaviour.
I think that makes the assumption that our doctors and psychologists just hand out these “labels” Willy nilly. Personally we had an ASD level 2 diagnosis for 2 years, a pile as long as my arm of tests (bloods, urine chromosomal, food tests, echos) before I went for a review with our behavioural psychologist with 30+ years experience and he stated my child was now exhibiting ODD traits. Total shock to me because I knew nothing and just attributed those behaviours to his ASD. When I really started to look into it though I realised this was something of its own. I’m glad diet changes have been of help to you but it would be irresponsible to suggest ODD doesn’t exist.
Personally for me, I just don't think it exists. ADHD, sure, but I think ODD is just an added diagnosis that they've been throwing around. They say with ODD it's largely influenced by parental factors, including DV, lack of guidance, lack of supervision, neglect, poverty. Of course, with all "disorders" there's exception to cases but a large volume of kids diagnosed have been exposed in some way to mistreatment. Treatment is literally family training and teaching your kid to behave correctly.
I am in no way suggesting that you have been an abusive parent. I am just saying that for the reasons surrounding the diagnosis (as per a lot of articles I read online when my son was getting diagnosed with ADHD) I just couldn't believe or agree with it existing based on my circumstances. I was told over and over that ODD has to do with the way the kid was raised and parents have so much influence on it "existing", so to me it just seemed like kids raised wrong and parents needing guidance on how to raise them right. Not it being a legitimate disorder that deserves to be recognised based on its occurrence.
However, good luck to your family and hopefully since your diagnosis things have turned around with the right therapy.
I have 5 kids, if it was any of those issues don’t you think I’d have more than 1 child with ODD (he’s also the only one with ASD and ADHD and my youngest at that).
I’ll go with my trained professionals advice rather just a layman’s opinion
The fact he's your youngest, potentially hasn't been given enough attention or was bullied by your older 4? And now you're sugar coating lack of attention and parental intervention with a diagnosis. If it were the first born, fair enough, but 5th. I'd question it.
As I said though, it will cause a shit fight. OP asked if it's real. For me, nope :) for you, yes. You live it everyday so it's your belief it's real. Mine is it isn't.
Lol you could not be further from the truth. He has 3 older siblings who dote on him and the child immediately above him is his best friend in the whole world. I have never witnessed such a close sibling bond. He’s been in speech, OT, behavioural and ABA since he was 3. I am a firm and loving parent, it’s a busy house and I quit work after having him because I realised my children needed me more than my career right now. I would move mountains for him if it meant he wouldn’t have to deal another day with the anxiety which so often backs ODD. Instead we help him build the skills to deal with those moments (no different to his ASD and ADHD). Interesting that you accept ASD and ADHD but not ODD which is diagnosed by the same testing criteria standards.
The difference is people are BORN with ADHD, whereas ODD is developed over time (can be a result of no intervention with ADHD). It’s not something kids are born with.
My child was supposedly ODD, I didn’t take the diagnosis nor will I. Lots of lifestyle and dietary changes and we’ve had success with behaviour improvement tenfold. I doubt he would be diagnosed as ODD if the paed saw him now as whole new child.
It’s listed in the DSM 5
Yes it is real.
Why are kids diagnosed with so many conditions and illnesses? Vaccines, pollution, shit food, fast paced lifestyle, busy-ness, school pressure, keeping up with the Jones’ and a general disconnect from nature and fellow humans
Fuck off with your bullshit scaremongering regarding vaccines. You're the fucked up reason why measles is returning.
ODD needs a lot of therapy and consistency.