Visitor, What is ADHD/ODD and How Do I Know If My Child Has It?

Visitor,

Here is your bonus report:
"What is ADHD/ODD and How Do I Know If My
Child Has It?"
(You requested it from AdhdParentingTips.com.)

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ADHD alone is difficult to deal with, but ADHD
comorbid (or combined) with ODD creates chaos.

Here is a short description of ODD (oppositional
defiant disorder).

If your child periodically talks back defiantly,
slams doors, acts stubborn, and blows up but has
some control to calm himself down, feel remorse,
and accept consoling and logical explanations,
he does not have ODD.

If your child is hot-headed, gets angry frequently,
loses his temper, is spiteful and vindictive,
deliberately annoys people around him (at home
and school alike), argues with adults, defies you,
and refuses to carry out rules and adults' requests,
be forewarned.

If he is easily annoyed by others and overreacts to
remarks by others, but never owns up to his mistakes
because they are always somebody's fault, this is a
full-fledged kid with ODD.

This is not a phase that will pass. He cannot control
these behaviors. He does not feel remorse for causing
the hurt feelings and chaos in his environment.

He definitely needs treatment and may need additional
medication (beyond what is prescribed for ADHD).

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Now for the long version of ODD.

Your child's doctor will look at the Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,
(DSM-IV) to diagnose your child.

The following excerpts in quotes are from DSM-IV
Made Easy: The Clinicians Guide to Diagnosis by
James Morrison (1995, p. #516), summarizing the
characteristics of ODD.

"DSM-IV lists ODD as a disorder defined by a pattern
of negativistic, hostile, and defiant behavior
lasting at least six months during which four or
more of the following characteristics are present:

Four times a week (at least):
•Is angry and resentful.
•Annoys people deliberately.

Twice a week (at least):
•Argues with adults.
•Loses temper.
•Defies or refuses to comply with adults' requests
or rules.
•Is touchy or easily annoyed by others.
Has occurred during the last three months:
•Blames others for his or her mistakes or
misbehavior.
•Is spiteful and vindictive.

In addition, the following conditions exist:
•The disturbance in behavior causes clinically
significant impairment in social, academic, or
occupational functioning.
•The behaviors do not occur exclusively during the
course of a psychotic or mood disorder.
•Criteria are not met for conduct disorder, and,
if the individual is age 18 years or older,
criteria are not met for antisocial personality
disorder."

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OK, that was the long version.

Remember that up to 65% of kids with ADHD develop ODD.
And it's entirely preventable if you use these methods.

If your child already has it, you cannot cure it,
only minimize it. And I'll show you how to do that soon.

Of children with ADHD, only those with the hyperactive
-impulsive and combined types of ADHD develop ODD.
ODD needs the hyperactive element to develop.

Warning: untreated ODD escalates out of control
quickly. Stick with me to learn how to keep that
from happening.

If you have been practicing the methods explained
in previous reports, you're probably getting some
relief.

That's a good start. You still need some practical
methods for getting your child to honor your requests
the first time. Repeating your requests will only
exhaust you both.

You still need practical methods for structuring your
child's activities to minimize transitions—often rife
with tantrums and misbehavior.

And you still need practical methods for correcting
your child's problem behaviors, for example, biting,
hitting, complaining, arguing, lying, and stealing.

If your child has not been diagnosed, you need a
practical plan for finding a skilled professional
to assess him.

If your child has been diagnosed and you haven't
found a competent therapist, you still need a
practical plan for finding a therapist.

All that and more is coming very soon.

I appreciate your patience.

===================================

Meanwhile, please write me with your questions and
concerns. Your feedback helps me serve you better.

Sincerely yours in parenting success,
Debra Sale Wendler
http://www.AdhdParentingTips.com

PS. Be on the lookout for more useful tips coming soon.

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