 Get ADHD and ODD Teen Behavior Help for children 12 and older |
ODD children typically are aggressive toward others. They tend to intentionally bother and irritate those around them. In addition, these children rebel against authority and will refuse to obey instructions for no particular reason. Oppositional Defiant Disorder children cause a lot of problems for those around them and are particularly difficult for parents, teachers, and other adults whose position demands obedience and authority.
Oppositional defiant children have trouble taking responsibility for their actions. Every problem, obstacle, or setback is always someone else’s fault. These children are stubborn and continually test limits. They frequently and unpredictably get angry, throw tantrums, and try the patience of those around them. ODD children break rules and refuse to take direction, even early in childhood.
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Oppositional Defiant Disorder children tend to be manipulative. They are quite skilled at causing conflict all around them. They are very good at pitting adults against each other. Often an ODD child in the home will turn parent against parent, parents against teachers, and induce discord in those around them.
In short, ODD children:
- Easliy lose their temper
- Constantly argue with adlits
- Refuse to carry out requests
- Won’t obey rlies
- Intentionally bother those around them
- Continually test limits and authority
- Refuse to accept responsibility for their own mistakes or misbehavior
- Are easily annoyed
- Frequently get angered, resentful, spiteful, or vindictive.
- Are mean when upset
- Take revenge when they feel wronged
- Throw temper tantrums even when older
There are a number of drug interventions that are used to treat ODD children. The focus of these drugs is to treat the other conditions that often accompany Oppositional Defiant
At this time, the primary way to treat Oppositional Defiant Disorder is through parent training programs. These programs are extremely effective in improving defiant behavior and are the only effective way to deal directly with ODD.
The main problem with parent training programs is that they are extremely expensive. Usually these programs are led by a psychologist or another mental health professional, last many months, and can carry a price tag of several thousands dollars. However, parents who have the money and are willing to spend it, find that these programs do make a difference.
However, a new study now suggests that parents have a better option.
Recently, researchers at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago tested three different ways of administering parent training programs. The purpose of the study was to determine if a professionally directed parent training program was more effective than a self-administered home based program in treating Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). They studied 117 parents who received either psychologist led parent training, nurse led parent training, or a home based self-administered parent training program.
The results were quite significant. Even one year after the study, all three groups of parents had significant improvement in their homes. However, it didn’t matter which group the parents were in. They all experienced about the same amount of improvement. The only significant difference was in the length of time parents enrolled in the program. Those who spend more time, got significantly better results.
What this study means for you is that you don’t need to shell out thousands of dollars to get the help you need for your ODD child. You can get the same results in a much more cost effective way, by enrolling in an online program, such as How to Improve Your Child’s Behavior for children ages 2-12 or in How to Handle Your Difficult Defiant Teenager for children 12 and older.
The main thing is that you must use a program that is designed to give you step by step instructions. It is important to note that this study did not show that just books on parenting help at all.
Warmly,
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I hope you enjoyed this article and found it helpful.
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This article is quite a find! It is good to know that research has proven great results with a more cost effective (and less obtrusive) option for handling children with ODD.
Now maybe the majority of the parents on this planet can actually get the help they need at a cost that also fits their family budgets!
I know what all the doctors and healtcare professionals cost…and the article is right…it can easily go into the thousands.
I would like to know how much a parent should expect to pay for an effective, decent, solid, proven, at home program for ODD? And how long would a program take to finish?
Nice to see there is hope!
I can’t believe what I just read. I really like reading your emails and viewing your videos on childhood behavioral issues Dr. Kane. But discouraging desperate parents from seeking professional help from those with years of experience and training and who can really make a difference, for a home-based program sounds, well, irresponsible.
The study you cited was flawed and cock-full of error (which is why it probably wasn’t published?). For example, the outcome was probably “basically the same for all three groups” because the prognosis for ODD is poor. And becasue most therapist don’t specialize in it. It is also best treated with a peer-based program, not individual or family therapy alone.
In my experience, the biggest factor in determining a good outcome when treating ODD is parents that work well together and present dedication in demonstrating a united front, plus a group-based program. But a skilled practitioner is key to guiding the lost parents. Are you seriously suggesting that some medication and a home-based do-it-yourself program is just as effective as professional help?? They aren’t putting together a model airplane Dr. Kane! It worries me you are promoting this.
I respect your point of view but I disagree with you on several key points.
First of all, in my experience the prognosis for ODD is quite good when it is handled properly. Understanding on the part of the parents and direction on how to address problems that are specific to ODD kids is the key. How the parents acquire this knowledge is far less important than getting the knowledge.
I agree that most therapists don’t specialize in ODD. For that reason alone, home based programs which are designed by professionals who do specialize in ODD are usually the better choice for most parents. The fact that they are significantly cheaper than therapists is a nice side benefit. Also, they are easier to find than an experienced therapist and are available everywhere; even in places where there are no experienced therapists.
As for medication- Since ODD behavior is very often a behavioral manifestation of other conditions, such as ADHD and bipolar disorder, it makes perfect sense that treating the underlying medical cause of the behavior would improve the condition. It is also nice that every study that I have seen on this topic shows this to be true.
I agree that having cooperative dedicated parents that are willing to work together is extremely important. That is the best scenario for parenting in any situation, even in normal healthy children. However, that is not usually the situation you find when addressing families with ODD children. Usually there is some disagreement on methods of parenting, one parent being lenient and the other strict. Often there is some level of marital discord. Very often one parent sees a problem and the other doesn’t want to hear about it.
Anyone even with minimal training can help a family when the parents get along agree on parenting and everything else is ideal. I have not found a lot of therapists who do well in the less than ideal situations. The therapists that I have seen take on the less than ideal families usually focus on trying to change the family dynamics rather than focusing on the child. Since no one came to the therapist for that, most parents aren’t motivated to make the changes necessary to fix the family dynamics and the treatment fails leaving the family with less money and the child basically where he was to begin with. Then the therapist concludes that ODD has a poor prognosis.
That is my observations and experience over the last 2 decades. Apparently, your experience is different.
My wife and I ‘survived’ raising our adopted at birth daughter and only child who was very difficult to raise. She was always defiant and always ‘selfish’. I attribute those behaviors to our inability to provide her sufficient structure and disciplined modeling behavior. Years of counseling, ADD meds, counseling, sports, etc. etc. etc… led only to teen years of continued difficulties and eventually to an addiction to crack….She now has 3 children and a husband who left her when he found out he is facing severe heart disiease and feels as though he will die soon…
Why do I say all of this? Because, I know that if i had learned about the messages this web site has to offer, we would have been far more proactive and capable of, either finding the appropriate counselor or, adopting more effective parenting principles.
I am presently employed at a psychiatric treament facility for boys and deal with ODD behaviors daily. I find that the advice I’ve received here has been TOO VALUABLE to not pass on to others.
If I had one piece of advice for dealing with ODD behaviors, it would be to work very hard at being a mature adult and remembering that RESPECT OF AND FOR the child is as important, but not more important than letting the child know that you deserve the same RESPECTFUL CONSIDERATION.
In other words, they need to know you are in charge of caring for them and that you love and respect them. You show that love and respect by insisting they make choices within set parameters and limits that are established in the child’s best interests!
By the way. She has been clean for 5 years now, is working hard to raise her children as a single mom and we are glad to help her in any way we can.
Enjoyed the article, totally describes my son, however he became especially difficult in the last year at the age of 16. He has ADHD as well, but has been showing oppositional defiance, extremely, in the past year. I know he has been using marijuana often and he says that he does so to ease his anxiety. I have been asking him to go to his doctor to get on anti anxiety meds, however, he refuses. He seems to think that marijuana will help him more. I basically try to disengage with him because any time I try to talk to him he becomes confrontational. I feel that he needs to be on his own and learn by his mistakes. I fine living in our house is stressful.