Search RaisingDeafKids.org

Hearing

Hearing Loss

Growing Up With Hearing Loss

Learning

Communicating

Getting Help

Special Needs

Print this page with Adobe Acrobat.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

Does your child have temper tantrums all the time? Does he seem angrier than other children? Does he break a lot of rules - on purpose? Your child could have oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). You can get help.

What is ODD?
ODD is a medical problem that makes people seem angry. A lot of children have ODD. In fact, it's one of the most common behavior problems in children. (About 1 in 20 children has it.) Most children get better with help.

In young children, more boys have ODD than girls. But for teens and adults, the same number of males and females have it. More children who are deaf have ODD behaviors.

People with ODD can have other problems; sometimes sorting out the problem is hard because some of the behaviors are the same. Some problems that can be confused with ODD are:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Depression
• Bipolar disorder
• Mild autism and other developmental disorders
  

If you think your child might have ODD, then you have a very tough job ahead of you. Keep on reading. You can help your child.

Causes of ODD
No one knows for sure what causes ODD. Some children with ODD develop these behaviors by copying what they see at home. But many children with ODD have no family members with this problem.

Next: The signs of ODD

About Us I Site Map I Search I Feedback I Privacy

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

© 2001-2004, Deafness and Family Communication Center or its affiliates