Adhd and odd child
What Does It Mean If Your Child Has Both Disorders?
Acting out is typical childhood behavior and doesn’t always mean a child has a behavioral disorder.
Some children, however, have a pattern of disruptive behavior. This may eventually lead to a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).
Children with ADHD are easily distracted, disorganized, and they may have difficulty sitting still. Children with ODD are often described as angry, defiant, or vindictive.
ODD is related to a child’s conduct and how they interact with their family, friends, and teachers. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder.
These conditions are different, but can occur together. Some seemingly defiant symptoms may be related to impulsivity in ADHD. In fact, it’s believed that about 40 percent of children with a diagnosis of ADHD also have ODD. Though, just like ADHD, not all children diagnosed with ODD have ADHD.
A child who only has ADHD may be full of energy or get overly excited when playing with classmates. This can sometimes lead to roughhousing and causing unintended harm to others.
Children with ADHD may also throw tantrums. But this isn’t a typical symptom of the disorder. Instead, the tantrum can be an impulse outburst due to frustration or boredom.
If the same child has ODD, not only do they have issues with impulse control, but also with an angry or irritable mood which can lead to physical aggression.
These children may have tantrums due to an inability to control their temper. They may be spiteful, upset others on purpose, and blame others for their own mistakes. In addition to getting overly excited and hurting a classmate while playing, they might lash out and blame the classmate and then refuse to apologize.
It’s important to note that traits of ODD and ADHD can also occur with learning disabilities and other conduct disorders. Care should be taken by a provider to get a clear picture of the overall symptoms before making a diagnosis.
Conduct disorder also involves things like lying, stealing, destroying property, aggression toward people or animals, and serious violations of rules, such as running away from home or truancy from school.
Also, roughly 1 out of 3 children with ADHD have symptoms of anxiety and some have depression.
When ADHD and ODD occur together, a child will display symptoms of both behavioral disorders. Symptoms for both disorders must be present for at least 6 months in order for the diagnosis to be made.
SYMPTOMS OF ADHD
- inability to pay attention at school
- difficulty focusing
- trouble listening and following directions
- unorganized
- frequently misplacing items
- easily distracted
- forgetting daily assignments or chores
- nonstop fidgeting
- talking too much
- blurting out answers in class
- interrupting conversations
symptoms of odd
- easily loses temper or is easily annoyed
- angry and resentful
- shows hostility toward authoritative figures
- refuses to comply to requests
- purposely annoys or upsets others
- blames others for their mistakes
Keep in mind that a child doesn’t need to exhibit all symptoms of ADHD and ODD to receive a diagnosis for both conditions.
There isn’t a specific test to diagnose both ODD and ADHD. Typically, a diagnosis is made after a medical examination and a psychological evaluation to rule out other conditions, such as depression or a learning disability.
To assist with a diagnosis, doctors may request a child’s personal and family medical history, as well as interview a child’s teacher, babysitter, or other people the child has frequent contact with.
When these conditions occur together, treatments involve medication to reduce hyperactivity and inattention, as well as therapy to treat defiant behavior.
Stimulants are used to treat ADHD and work by balancing chemicals in the brain. These medicines are fast-acting, but it can take time to find the right dosage for your child.
Some stimulants have been associated with heart-related deaths in children who have heart defects. Your doctor may request an electrocardiogram before prescribing these drugs. This test measures the electrical activity in your child’s heart and looks for heart problems.
Some cognitive-enhancing drugs, antihypertensive drugs, and antidepressants are also used to treat ADHD. Some children may also benefit from behavioral therapy, family therapy, and social skills training.
Medication isn’t used to treat ODD unless there are other symptoms to treat. There are no FDA-approved medications to treat ODD. Treatment typically involves individual and family therapy. Family therapy can improve communication and parent-child interactions.
Your child may also receive cognitive problem-solving training. This training helps them correct the negative thought patterns that can lead to behavior problems. Some children also receive social skills training to learn the proper way to interact with their peers.
Online therapy options
Read our review of the best online therapy options to find the right fit for you.
The exact cause of these conditions is unknown. But it’s believed that genetics and environmental influences may play a role.
For example, a child may develop both conditions if ADHD runs in their family.
Symptoms vary, but can include patterns of behavior that result in self-harm. These children may also approach social interactions with aggression.
As far as environmental factors, lead exposure may raise the risk for ADHD. A child may also be at risk for ODD if there’s a history of harsh discipline, abuse, or neglect at home.
A diagnosis of both ADHD and ODD can cause a child to have difficulties at home and at school. It can lead to strained relationships with their parents, siblings, and classmates.
Also, having an inability to focus or sit still and arguing with teachers can result in poor school performance.
If left untreated, both conditions can trigger low self-esteem and depression. This puts a child at risk for misuse of alcohol or drugs, antisocial behavior, and even suicide.
Speak with your child’s doctor if they have signs of ADHD, ODD, or both. Your doctor can refer a mental health professional.
Or, you can find a doctor using the American Psychological Association’s Psychologist Locator.
A child psychologist or psychiatrist can provide a diagnosis and create a treatment plan based on the severity of your child’s condition.
Early intervention is crucial when a child displays symptoms of ADHD or ODD. Treatment might involve a combination of medication and psychotherapy to relieve symptoms and correct negative patterns.
Even when therapy works, some children need ongoing treatment to keep these conditions under control. Don’t hesitate to seek help and talk with your child’s healthcare provider about any concerns.
What Does It Mean If Your Child Has Both Disorders?
Acting out is typical childhood behavior and doesn’t always mean a child has a behavioral disorder.
Some children, however, have a pattern of disruptive behavior. This may eventually lead to a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).
Children with ADHD are easily distracted, disorganized, and they may have difficulty sitting still. Children with ODD are often described as angry, defiant, or vindictive.
ODD is related to a child’s conduct and how they interact with their family, friends, and teachers. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder.
These conditions are different, but can occur together. Some seemingly defiant symptoms may be related to impulsivity in ADHD. In fact, it’s believed that about 40 percent of children with a diagnosis of ADHD also have ODD. Though, just like ADHD, not all children diagnosed with ODD have ADHD.
A child who only has ADHD may be full of energy or get overly excited when playing with classmates. This can sometimes lead to roughhousing and causing unintended harm to others.
Children with ADHD may also throw tantrums. But this isn’t a typical symptom of the disorder. Instead, the tantrum can be an impulse outburst due to frustration or boredom.
If the same child has ODD, not only do they have issues with impulse control, but also with an angry or irritable mood which can lead to physical aggression.
These children may have tantrums due to an inability to control their temper. They may be spiteful, upset others on purpose, and blame others for their own mistakes. In addition to getting overly excited and hurting a classmate while playing, they might lash out and blame the classmate and then refuse to apologize.
It’s important to note that traits of ODD and ADHD can also occur with learning disabilities and other conduct disorders. Care should be taken by a provider to get a clear picture of the overall symptoms before making a diagnosis.
Conduct disorder also involves things like lying, stealing, destroying property, aggression toward people or animals, and serious violations of rules, such as running away from home or truancy from school.
Also, roughly 1 out of 3 children with ADHD have symptoms of anxiety and some have depression.
When ADHD and ODD occur together, a child will display symptoms of both behavioral disorders. Symptoms for both disorders must be present for at least 6 months in order for the diagnosis to be made.
SYMPTOMS OF ADHD
- inability to pay attention at school
- difficulty focusing
- trouble listening and following directions
- unorganized
- frequently misplacing items
- easily distracted
- forgetting daily assignments or chores
- nonstop fidgeting
- talking too much
- blurting out answers in class
- interrupting conversations
symptoms of odd
- easily loses temper or is easily annoyed
- angry and resentful
- shows hostility toward authoritative figures
- refuses to comply to requests
- purposely annoys or upsets others
- blames others for their mistakes
Keep in mind that a child doesn’t need to exhibit all symptoms of ADHD and ODD to receive a diagnosis for both conditions.
There isn’t a specific test to diagnose both ODD and ADHD. Typically, a diagnosis is made after a medical examination and a psychological evaluation to rule out other conditions, such as depression or a learning disability.
To assist with a diagnosis, doctors may request a child’s personal and family medical history, as well as interview a child’s teacher, babysitter, or other people the child has frequent contact with.
When these conditions occur together, treatments involve medication to reduce hyperactivity and inattention, as well as therapy to treat defiant behavior.
Stimulants are used to treat ADHD and work by balancing chemicals in the brain. These medicines are fast-acting, but it can take time to find the right dosage for your child.
Some stimulants have been associated with heart-related deaths in children who have heart defects. Your doctor may request an electrocardiogram before prescribing these drugs. This test measures the electrical activity in your child’s heart and looks for heart problems.
Some cognitive-enhancing drugs, antihypertensive drugs, and antidepressants are also used to treat ADHD. Some children may also benefit from behavioral therapy, family therapy, and social skills training.
Medication isn’t used to treat ODD unless there are other symptoms to treat. There are no FDA-approved medications to treat ODD. Treatment typically involves individual and family therapy. Family therapy can improve communication and parent-child interactions.
Your child may also receive cognitive problem-solving training. This training helps them correct the negative thought patterns that can lead to behavior problems. Some children also receive social skills training to learn the proper way to interact with their peers.
Online therapy options
Read our review of the best online therapy options to find the right fit for you.
The exact cause of these conditions is unknown. But it’s believed that genetics and environmental influences may play a role. For example, a child may develop both conditions if ADHD runs in their family.
Symptoms vary, but can include patterns of behavior that result in self-harm. These children may also approach social interactions with aggression.
As far as environmental factors, lead exposure may raise the risk for ADHD. A child may also be at risk for ODD if there’s a history of harsh discipline, abuse, or neglect at home.
A diagnosis of both ADHD and ODD can cause a child to have difficulties at home and at school. It can lead to strained relationships with their parents, siblings, and classmates.
Also, having an inability to focus or sit still and arguing with teachers can result in poor school performance.
If left untreated, both conditions can trigger low self-esteem and depression. This puts a child at risk for misuse of alcohol or drugs, antisocial behavior, and even suicide.
Speak with your child’s doctor if they have signs of ADHD, ODD, or both. Your doctor can refer a mental health professional. Or, you can find a doctor using the American Psychological Association’s Psychologist Locator.
A child psychologist or psychiatrist can provide a diagnosis and create a treatment plan based on the severity of your child’s condition.
Early intervention is crucial when a child displays symptoms of ADHD or ODD. Treatment might involve a combination of medication and psychotherapy to relieve symptoms and correct negative patterns.
Even when therapy works, some children need ongoing treatment to keep these conditions under control. Don’t hesitate to seek help and talk with your child’s healthcare provider about any concerns.
What is attention deficit disorder and how not to confuse it with hearing loss
If your child is unable to concentrate on homework, this may be a sign that he has both attention deficit disorder (ADD) and hearing loss. Both of these pathological conditions have similar external manifestations and can proceed in parallel to each other.
What is Attention Deficit Disorder?
ADD is a behavioral disorder of unknown etiology with no clear diagnostic criteria. Some of its symptoms mimic those of hearing loss.
A child with ADD may be impulsive, requiring increased attention to himself, have poor organizational skills, have difficulty with tasks that require prolonged mental effort, and be easily distracted.
Children with a similar disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), also cannot sit still and take on several tasks at the same time, without actually completing any of them. The difference between ADHD and ADHD is the presence of impulsivity and motor excitation.
Strictly speaking, an adult, but if they are persistent and especially pronounced in comparison with classmates, then this may indicate the presence of ADD and ADHD.
Hearing loss can be mistaken for ADD and vice versa
The increase in the number of cases of ADD and ADHD detected in the past few decades increases the likelihood of medical errors in the differential diagnosis of hearing loss, the prevalence of which is also growing every year. According to the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association (ASHA), 1 in 100 children is born with clinically significant (diagnosable) hearing loss in one or both ears.
Even a mild degree of hearing loss is enough to prevent a child from hearing up to half of what is said in the classroom.
General signs of ADHD and hearing loss:
- poor school performance;
- carelessness;
- lack of response to speech appeal;
- emotional outbursts;
- frequent answers to questions inappropriately;
- low self-esteem;
- difficulties in communicating with others.
If these symptoms are present, the child may also be diagnosed with a learning disorder - impaired development of reading, writing and literacy, while in reality this will be a consequence of hearing loss.
In some cases, a child may have both hearing loss and ADHD, which does not eliminate the need to establish the true cause of poor academic performance and inattention in each specific case in order to avoid errors in diagnosis, because. hearing loss and ADD/ADHD require different treatment approaches.
Important: Treating hearing loss significantly improves school performance, whether or not the child has ADHD.
The importance of a correct diagnosis
An accurate diagnosis means the right treatment , which in turn is the key to improving a child's school performance.
When a child has both congenital hearing loss and ADHD, hearing loss is usually diagnosed first due to newborn audiological screening and a clearer clinical picture. In general, hearing loss is easier to diagnose than ADHD due to more objective criteria. In some tests, the diagnosis of hearing loss does not require the participation of the patient at all, while in the diagnosis of ADHD the patient is involved to a much greater extent, because. almost the entire diagnostic process is based on fixing his behavioral reactions, psychological status and internal sensations (in the “question-answer” format), which introduces a large amount of subjectivity.
Speech and language delay in children with hearing loss
Hearing loss causes a delay in the development of speech skills and vocabulary.
This can be avoided with early diagnosis and proper treatment, including the use of hearing aids and cochlear implants along with the help of a speech therapist.
If a child simply does not hear the teacher, he will by definition not be able to do school assignments correctly, and from the outside it will seem that he is just not diligent and attentive enough. All of this can lead to a misdiagnosis of ADHD instead of hearing loss.
If a child has been diagnosed with hearing loss, but the prescribed treatment and corrective actions did not improve school performance, this may indicate the presence of ADHD. In this case, it is necessary to conduct a specific diagnosis of ADHD. At the same time, in both cases (both with hearing loss and with ADHD), speech therapy assistance is shown to the child.
Whether a child has hearing loss or ADHD or both, the key to successful treatment is correct and timely diagnosis. At the slightest suspicion of any of these pathological conditions, consult an audiologist for the diagnosis of hearing loss and a pediatrician or neuropsychiatrist for the diagnosis of ADHD at the same time.
Author of the article
Kivshik Maria Yurievna
Audiologist-otorhinolaryngologist
Work experience: since 2003
Is there a child with ADHD in your class? How to improve the schooling of a child with ADHD
Today, in every classroom there may seem to be a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - and more than one. What should parents do when their hyperactive child goes to school? What is important for teachers to know about hyperactive children? Is it possible to organize the educational process in such a way that neither a child with ADHD nor his classmates suffer?
All children in the classroom behave differently. But some guys stand out in particular: they ignore the norms of behavior and the requests of the teacher, endlessly chatting in class, swinging in chairs, counting crows outside the window - in general, they do anything, but they just don’t study.
Some of these children are actually not just misbehaving - they have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and this is a medical diagnosis.
ADHD is a neurological-behavioral developmental disorder that begins in childhood. A person suffering from this disorder is too active and impulsive, he has difficulty concentrating and holding attention. Symptoms of ADHD can occur regularly and in any setting and can create difficulties for the child, their parents, teachers, and other children. The behavior of children in these cases is usually not age appropriate.
Boys are thought to be more likely to suffer from ADHD than girls (approximately 80% versus 20%), and urban children are more likely to have the disorder than rural children. In addition, children from socially disadvantaged families are more likely to suffer from ADHD. In general, the number of children with ADHD in the world is approximately 5%. It turns out that out of twenty children, at least one will be hyperactive. This means that in almost every school class there is a child with some degree of ADHD.
Signs of ADHD in children
Children who have attention deficit disorder - which may or may not be accompanied by hyperactivity - have a small range of active attention.
This means that they cannot control their attention or their behavior - and concentrate on the brightest and most interesting that is in their field of vision. If a girl’s pigtail dangles in front of such a child, a crow flies outside the window, and high school students cackle outside the door, he is inevitably distracted.
Hyperactive child interferes with other children. He can shout something from a place, jump up and get up, get under a desk, spin around in a chair, stomp his feet and even sing. It is important to understand that the child does not do all this to spite someone: otherwise he simply cannot. He is like a person who is cold and trembling. From someone's order, the trembling will not stop.
Sometimes it happens that in addition to ADHD, a child has some other problems that often accompany this syndrome - anxiety, depression, causing oppositional disorder, conduct disorder. He can be not only hyperactive, but also is hostile towards others.
In this case, he becomes a headache for classmates and their parents, who immediately begin to write complaints to various authorities. However, there are ways to solve the problem constructively.
What is the best thing to do as a parent of children whose classmate has ADHD?
In a situation where proceedings are imminent, it is best to contact the school administration, which is obliged to help build interaction between all parties to the conflict and try to solve the problem, since it is the school that must ensure the physical and mental safety of students. But parents of other children do not have the right to demand that someone else's child be excluded from the educational process and deprive him of the right to education.
What can school administrators do? For example, assign a tutor to a child with difficult behavior, ask the school psychologist to attend the lessons and create a work plan for teaching self-control for the child.
It is possible to agree in some other way with the parents of a problem student - for example, that the child studies according to an individual plan: part of the lessons attends together with everyone, part studies remotely or in a family form of education, or receives one-on-one consultations with teacher (depends in each case on the possibilities of the family and the school, on the fatigue of the student, on what his main problems are).
It is important for the school and the parents of a child with ADHD to reduce the level of mutual claims, and move on to what the parent should do at home and what the teacher should do at school. Both of them can do quite a lot.
What can a parent of a student with ADHD do with a teacher?
In the joint area of responsibility of the parent and teacher of a child with ADHD - the unity of requirements for this child. The teacher must make it clear what the child must do in school in order to master the program and receive certification.
The teacher and parents should organize a constant exchange of information. Children with ADHD often miss deadlines or ignore assignments, don't do their homework, or don't go to class at all, finding themselves heavily in student debt. Parents often simply do not know about this - and will not find out without the help of a teacher.
One of the parents should always, with the help of the teacher, monitor the child's attendance at school, his progress, and his homework. After all, the accumulated debts, claims, sooner or later will end with a reprimand for this child, from which he will not draw any conclusions due to ADHD, but the stress will be enormous.
What can a parent of a student with ADHD do at home?
The parental area of responsibility is, firstly, the good physical condition of the child. Children with ADHD are very dependent on their well-being - if it is bad, their attention drops to a critical minimum.
So, parents should make sure that the child goes to school and from school on time, and does not "walk" on the way.
It is important that he goes to bed on time - otherwise he will not work at all in the classroom, and it is pointless to go to school. You need to make sure that he has breakfast, because chocolates and snacks without breakfast and lunch quickly affect the general condition.
It is important that when such children do their homework, they are not shouted at - although sometimes they are unbearable and bring parents to white heat. Some use a life hack: if funds allow, they hire, for example, a student who can simply sit next to the child and watch that he is not distracted.
The most important thing is to teach the child the basic things: goal-setting and work planning, self-control, monitoring one's own state and strength. It is important not to do half the work for the child, not to demand that he redo everything. Instead, you can teach the child to understand in what order to do the work, what did not work out for him, to analyze why it happened. In this way, the child can be helped to become aware of the ways in which he can go to help himself.
A few more facts about children with ADHD
- Children with ADHD often have a so-called "hyperfocus" - this means that they can get really carried away with something and not notice anything around them, except for the subject of interest to them. For example, they can enthusiastically solve mathematical problems or collect Lego - this completely absorbs their attention, it is difficult for them, on the contrary, to be distracted. It’s good when something socially acceptable attracts the attention of children - a profession can grow out of the same passion for Lego, spiders or airbrushing. But modern schoolchildren in this context most often "stick" to gadgets and get hung up on computer games that can keep the child's attention as much as possible.
- It is estimated that 40% of ADHD cases do not improve with age. The syndrome persists in one form or another, people just learn to live with it.
- Children with ADHD often change universities or leave them altogether.
This is due to the fact that they have problems with self-organization, independent work, it is difficult for them to read boring professional literature. - People with ADHD do well in creative professions, in business, where they can set interesting tasks and pass them on to middle managers, they can be excellent field researchers. And they can, oddly enough, find themselves in professions with a very structured and understandable list of tasks, where they do not have to strain their self-control all the time.
It is important for a teacher who has a child with ADHD to know exactly how to behave with him. To do this, within the framework of the teacher development program "I am a Teacher" from Yandex, a free online course "ADHD in children: recommendations for the teacher" was launched. The course expert is Irina Lukyanova.
The course details the characteristics of children with ADHD, how to create a friendly environment in the classroom for such a child, how to help him socialize and how to interact with his parents and parents of other children about him.
