What Is ODD?
The most commonly exhibited behaviors of ODD are defiance, spitefulness, negativity, hostility and verbal aggression. These children typically display excessive or abnormal amounts of rebellion, stubbornness, and refusal to obey. They frequently argue with adults and are often labeled as ‘verbally aggressive.’ It is not uncommon for them to use foul language, to blame others for their mistakes, to resort to violence, to have frequent angry outbursts, or to ignore or challenge rules put in place by parents or other authority figures.
In toddlerhood, temper tantrums are one of the more common symptoms of ODD. Children often throw tantrums when things do not go the way they want and when they do not get things they want. They will often scream, cry, lay down on the ground and hit others. While this behavior can be occasionally normal for all children, children with ODD tend to throw more temper tantrums than other children their age.
How can ABA treatment help with ODD?
A treatment plan will be tailored to the needs and behavioral symptoms of each child as well as age, severity, and co-occurring mental health conditions. ODD treatment can last several months or more and requires a parent’s commitment and follow-through, below are some treatment options that may be employed:
- Individual/Behavioral therapy-Cognitive problem-solving skills to reduce inappropriate behaviors teaching positive ways of responding to stressful situations, and social skills training to relate more positively to peers and improve communication skills. Manage anger and express feelings in a healthy way.
Seeking treatment for any co-occurring mental health condition or learning disorder can decrease the behavioral symptoms of ODD. If left untreated, ODD can develop into Conduct Disorder, a more serious behavioral disorder that can lead to destructive antisocial behavior, and an increased risk of substance abuse and delinquency. Parenting a child or teen with ODD can be a trying and difficult challenge for parents, intervention strategies that work with most children such as time-outs, removal of privileges, and grounding often do not work with ODD. Seeking support and counseling means you as a parent gain strategies to react calmly when confronting extreme behavior, and learn ways of coping with the stress of parenting in the face of such difficult circumstances
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Phone: (407) 655-4230
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