Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) resources?

[cintinative]

I have a family member dealing with this. The child is 12 and this year, either because of puberty, increased schoolwork, or both, has been the worst thus far. 

 

Are there support groups? How can they be sure their counselor is doing what he/she should?  

TIA!

[Innisfree]

Not sure if this will be helpful, but without being in any way qualified to pronounce judgements on diagnoses, I have reservations about ODD as a diagnosis.

 

Our dd was given ODD as a first diagnosis when she was five by a local therapist. Eventually a neuropsych more appropriately diagnosed her with autism.

 

The difference is significant in a couple of ways. ODD described her behavior accurately, but it didn't begin to explain why she behaved that way. Autism explained that. Once we understood the "why," we were able to start appropriate therapy and medication, both of which have helped. She still struggles sometimes with various stressors, and she still sometimes has meltdowns, but she is very far from being oppositional *except in response to stress which is beyond her capacity to handle*. And now we understand what's happening.

 

So, my best personal recommendation for ODD would be a good neuropsych evaluation to see what is really underlying the behavior which ODD describes.

 

Beyond that, yes, puberty is certainly a prime time for any difficulties to get worse. Hugs. I hope your family finds some help.

[cintinative]

Thanks Innisfree.  I know they have been very hesitant to allow that diagnosis and I don't think it has been formally applied. The only diagnoses that have been applied are ADHD and anxiety. It is so hard when you have the stress that they do in the house to know what started it all.  I have no idea if he has had a neuropsych eval or not. I will ask.

[Innisfree]

I hear you on the stress. Hugs.

 

Way back when we got the ODD label, I believe the recommendation was for something called Parent Effectiveness Training (?). Nothing like that was available near us, but maybe it would be for your family.

 

Anxiety, ADHD and puberty could certainly cause plenty of trouble on their own. Best wishes as they sort it all out.

[kbutton]

Thanks Innisfree.  I know they have been very hesitant to allow that diagnosis and I don't think it has been formally applied. The only diagnoses that have been applied are ADHD and anxiety. It is so hard when you have the stress that they do in the house to know what started it all.  I have no idea if he has had a neuropsych eval or not. I will ask.

 

So, has autism been floated as a possible explanation, or are you saying that ODD is not a label they want to accept?

 

As for the counselor doing the right thing, the counselor should be taking a diagnosis into consideration--autism and ODD are probably not going to be treated the same. ODD and anxiety are probably not going to be treated the same.

 

Anxiety and ADHD are kind of a lot of the way to autism (though kids can have both and not be on the spectrum at all). I would be very, very hesitant to label a child with anxiety as ODD. My son has ASD and ADHD, and he's only oppositional when he's anxious and feels out of control (though he can be pseudo-oppositional if he's "stuck" in an ASD kind of way). It's kind of unfair to relabel anxiety as ODD.

 

As for hesitating on the part of the parents to allow a diagnosis of ASD or ODD (not sure if I'm reading your response correctly), I think getting more familiar with what those things really and truly mean can be helpful. Informed by someone pretty reputable--a good look at the criteria and what range of behaviors the criteria can include is helpful. Just be sure you aren't getting sources that will say things like, "this child makes eye contact, so ASD is not an appropriate diagnosis." That's not helpful and is just not necessarily true across the board. (I have some prejudicial things to say about one major source of information in Cinti about autism, so if your family members are there, I would say some shopping around might be helpful, but I won't get any more specific on the forum. PM if you want more info.)