Oppositional Defiant Disorder in Children- What happens to them?

Children who are diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) have 4 possible paths to take.

1. Some will grow out of it. Half of the preschoolers that are labeled ODD are normal by the age of 8. However, in older children, 75% will still fulfill the diagnostic criteria later in life.
   
   
2. It may turn into something else. 5-10 % of preschoolers with ODD have their diagnosis changed to ADHD. In some children, the defiant behavior gets worse and these children eventually are diagnosed with conduct disorder. This progression usually happens fairly early. If a child has ODD for 3-4 years and he hasn't developed Conduct Disorder, then they most likely will not develop it.
   
   
3. The child may continue to have ODD without any thing else. This is unusual. By the time preschoolers with ODD are 8 years old, only 5% have just this condition and nothing else.
   
   
4. The child develops other disorders. This is the most common outcome.
   

Therefore, be proactive in getting help now. There is a lot you, as a parent can learn and implement that will make a significant impact on your child's behavior. There are new things you can always learn...don't hesitate to get the extra parenting help you might need. Check out My Out of Control Child by Mark Hutten which works specifically with ODD kids. You won't be disappointed.