ODD Therapy in Los Angeles
Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) can be one of the most frustrating disorders to deal with as a parent. From intense tantrums to refusing to follow the rules, a child with ODD can cause strain in families.
Children diagnosed with ODD often struggle to make friends and with success in school. With the right treatment, symptoms of ODD can be greatly reduced.
2-3
The age when children typically begin to exhibit ODD traits.
1 in 6
The number of children that will be affected by ODD in childhood.
High
Negative impact on quality of life for children and their families.
What is ODD?
Almost all children act out at some points, it's a normal part of development. For some kids however, aggressive and defiant behavior becomes more frequent and lasts for years. These children are almost always diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder.
Children with ODD will have a strong pattern of angry and irritable behavior, including frequently losing their temper and becoming easily annoyed at others. These children will usually refuse to follow rules and can become vindictive.
The good news is that ODD is a treatable disorder, and with the right therapy your child can reduce the impact of their symptoms.
What causes ODD?
ODD is thought to be caused by a mix of social, biological, and psychological factors. There is evidence to show that there are differences in the brain regions that control judgement and reasoning. Children with ODD also have trouble reading social cues, and may perceive hostility in normal, everyday interactions.
There is a very high overlap among kids with ODD and ADHD. In fact, up to 40% of children diagnosed with ADHD will also be diagnosed with ODD. Children with ADHD often are irritable and disruptive, which leads them to conflict with authority figures.
Another potential cause for ODD can be trauma experienced as a child.
Signs and Symptoms
It's important to distinguish between normal, moody behavior and a true disorder. All children can be defiant, but ODD symptoms tend to last for 6 months at a minimum.
Many children also fight with their siblings, but a child with ODD will be annoyed, argumentative, or vindictive with parents, peers, and authority figures.
The signs of ODD usually start to appear when the child is between 2 and 3 years old, but can affect children into their teens.
Easily annoyed
Loses temper easily and often
Argumentative and refuses to follow directions with adults
Blames others for his or her own mistakes
ODD Treatment
Treatment starts with getting a diagnosis. Work with a psychologist or contact us to schedule an assessment for your child.
Evidence shows that parent training is the most effective at treating ODD. Parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT) is a form of parent training where you will work with your therapist to learn the necessary skills to help your child manage their symptoms. For example, learning how to effectively use praise when your child does something good, and enforcing consequences when they don't.
Because ODD symptoms can be strongest at home, seeing your therapist from home via videoconferencing is ideal. This way you can work with your child in the environment they experience the strongest effects.
How to Get Your Child Help
Treatment at WaveMind consists of a 4 step process.
Get Diagnosis
Get your child assessed by a trained psychologist to determine whether or not he/she has ODD.
3. Learn the Skills
You learn the skills to train your child's behavior, from positive reinforcement to standing your ground on punishments.
2. Develop Treatment Plan.
Your clinician will work with you to create a treatment plan that helps your child without pushing them too far.
4. Follow Up
Your therapist will continue to hold optional sessions to make sure you and your child have all the skills needed to be successful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ODD connected to ADHD?
About 40% of all children with ADHD will also be diagnosed with ODD. Often the symptoms of ADHD, like an inability to sit still and becoming easily distracted, create negative situations with authority figures and cause the child to act out.
How do I discipline a child with ODD?
With ODD, "punishment" will rarely be effective. You first need to make sure that your child understands they have done something wrong, and why it is wrong. If they have broken a rule, you need to enforce the consequences, like time out or removing a favorite toy.
Can a child outgrow ODD?
There is evidence that ODD symptoms in many children will decline over time. However 30% of children that are not treated will eventually develop conduct disorder, and 10% will develop a lasting personality disorder. The risk is even higher for younger children diagnosed with ODD.