What is Oppositional Defiant Disorder?

Oppositional defiant disorder, or ODD, is characterized by a pattern of hostile, disobedient, and defiant behaviors by children towards adults and other authoritative figures. Children with ODD may suffer from social isolation, relationship conflicts, and have difficulty in educational environments. 

What are the Signs?

Children with ODD often display angry and irritable moods, as well as argumentative and vindictive  behaviors. These children may also purposefully cause conflict, annoy the people around them, and place the blame on others for their misconduct. Children with ODD may have the below signs:

• • Behavioral – Children with ODD may display defiant behavior, including arguing, fighting, refusing to follow rules, throwing repeated temper tantrums, blaming others, showing hostility toward others, willingly destroying relationships, being spiteful, and repeated disobedience. 
  • Cognitive – Children with ODD may display cognitive signs, including frequent frustration, difficulty concentrating, and failure to ‘think before speaking’.
  • Psychosocial – Children with ODD may suffer from social isolation and have difficulty making friends. Other signs include loss of self-esteem, persistent negativity, and consistent feelings of annoyance. 

Oppositional Defiant Disorder Testing for Children in The Woodlands

While all children will likely display defiant behavior throughout their growing years, those suffering from ODD will display such behavior more often. There may also be a significant difference in how the signs and symptoms present themselves according to age and gender; therefore, proper testing is necessary. 

Geo-Anna Q. Hirshenbaum PhD, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, provides extensive oppositional defiant disorder testing in The Woodlands, Texas for children. Through careful psychological analysis, Dr. Hirshenbaum’s assessment process allows for diagnostic clarity and individualized recommendations to move forward in pinpointing issues of distress, planning effective treatment, and reaching personal goals.