What is Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)?
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is characterized by a pattern of behaviors in which students regularly oppose rules and authority. In young children, it can look a great deal like "temper tantrums" but as children get older they do not learn to adapt to social and authoritative expectations. As a child's development progresses, the need to socialize increases especially as they begin to enter school settings. Once they reach school age, a child's tendency toward ODD may become more obvious as their ability to socially interact appropriately with peers and adults begin to lessen. Although ODD is statistically more frequent in boys, there is also a high number of girls who receive diagnosis of the disorder.
It is important to note that ODD does not define every moment of a child's life. ODD behaviors most often exhibit themselves when children are placed in frustrating and overwhelming situations that are putting a great deal of demand on their decision making skills. When they encounter these situations, their natural coping mechanism is to find a "hole" in the system. For example, if a child wants a piece of candy and a parent says no, the child will keep asking until the parent relents. Once the child learns that it is possible to get the parent to relent, they will repeat their persistence each time they want candy knowing that there is a breaking point that they have to find. Children with ODD have strong willpower and figure out ways to make sure that they outlast the adults and authority figures who are preventing them from getting their way.
There is a debate among experts about what the cause of ODD is. Some experts feel that it is an emotional behavioral issue related to a need for dominance and that aggressive responses exhibit themselves when children are placed in situations that make them feel they are not in control. Other mental health professionals feel that the root cause is connected to a chld's cognitive understanding of how to problem-solve various situations. The disorder often has co-morbidity with attention deficit disorder and mood disorders. However, there does seem to be agreement on the fact that ODD behaviors begin to follow a pattern in that certain situations set off the behaviors, so the best strategy for parents and teachers is to be proactive in recognizing those situations and working with students to understand how they can minimize their frustration, thus minimizing the occurrence of negative behaviors.
It is important to note that ODD does not define every moment of a child's life. ODD behaviors most often exhibit themselves when children are placed in frustrating and overwhelming situations that are putting a great deal of demand on their decision making skills. When they encounter these situations, their natural coping mechanism is to find a "hole" in the system. For example, if a child wants a piece of candy and a parent says no, the child will keep asking until the parent relents. Once the child learns that it is possible to get the parent to relent, they will repeat their persistence each time they want candy knowing that there is a breaking point that they have to find. Children with ODD have strong willpower and figure out ways to make sure that they outlast the adults and authority figures who are preventing them from getting their way.
There is a debate among experts about what the cause of ODD is. Some experts feel that it is an emotional behavioral issue related to a need for dominance and that aggressive responses exhibit themselves when children are placed in situations that make them feel they are not in control. Other mental health professionals feel that the root cause is connected to a chld's cognitive understanding of how to problem-solve various situations. The disorder often has co-morbidity with attention deficit disorder and mood disorders. However, there does seem to be agreement on the fact that ODD behaviors begin to follow a pattern in that certain situations set off the behaviors, so the best strategy for parents and teachers is to be proactive in recognizing those situations and working with students to understand how they can minimize their frustration, thus minimizing the occurrence of negative behaviors.
Skills that Children with ODD Struggle to Develop
Children who exhibit symptoms of ODD often struggle with critical, life skills, such as:
- Verbal Communication
- Organization of thoughts with rational supporting evidence
- Impulse control
- Sustained attention span
- Situational/environmental flexibility
- Long term connections between behavior and rewards/consequences
- Overlooking hunger and fatigue to complete a task or activity
Strategies to Assist with ODD
Working closely with a team that consists of school professionals, mental health professionals and family members is critical to assisting a child with ODD learn to cope with their disorder. This team can collaborate on ideas that will work for each specific child, however there are some basic strategies and tips that seem to help across the board in allowing children to successfully manage ODD;
- Create a regularly followed schedule that ensures proper amounts of sleep and nutritious meals
- Develop a system of short-term rewards and consequences. Long-term rewards/consequences become difficult to remember and can lead to increased frustration and negative behavior.
- Non-negotiable rules should be minimal and should apply to areas of life that are MOST important to the child and the adults in his/her life. Don't have a rule for every minor decision or the child will not learn to problem solve on their own.
- Rewards and consequences should be consistent and clear. Do not change strategies once a student has learned the outcomes of behaviors.
- Structure days with a schedule that children are aware of well in advance
- Create a collaboration between children and adults that will teach children how to solve problems in a mutually agreeable way
- Be clear in explanations of "why things are the way they are." Telling a child with ODD "because I said so" is not an answer that makes sense to him/her.
- Help children devise an "escape" strategy when they feel themselves getting upset. If children know where to go/what to do in order to remove themselves from frustrating situations, they will be more able to control their impulses.