You said that your child talks back, argues, and does not do what you ask.
You said that your child acts this way more often than other children his/her
age. When your child acts this way it causes big problems for him/her at
home and/or preschool/school/daycare. Children with these problems often have
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD).
Your child has been acting in 4 or more of the following ways:
Often has temper tantrums
Argues a lot with adults
Refuses to do what adults tell him/her to do
Tries to annoy or upset people on purpose
Blames others for his/her mistakes or behavior
Is touchy or easily annoyed by others
Often angry; Holds a grudge
Mean and hateful talking when upset
Seeks revenge or tries to "get even"
Very young children with ODD seem stubborn and refuse to do what
adults ask. They may "mouth off" and throw temper tantrums.
Many children with ODD only act this way at home. A few children
only act this way at preschool/school or daycare. Some act this
way more than one setting.
ODD is a common problem. Five to fifteen percent of school-aged
children have ODD. Children with ODD usually start having problems
by age 8. A child with ODD may also have other problems with learning
or behavior. Children with ODD who don't get help may get into even
more trouble (e.g., stealing, breaking things, fighting).
