What is the difference between ADHD and ODD?

Question

Does any one know the differences between the two? I have a 5 yr old that was diagnosed with ADHD and the pills are making him act more high then anything. He is only on 10mg and I was told by another mom at soccer practice a little about ODD. She said that one of her kids has it but didn't say much about it.

So if anyone can help I would apprecate it thanks.

Answer 1

ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder) and ODD (oppositional Defiance Disorder) can coexist.

If the adhd meds are making her worse then she probably doesn't have it.

I have given you pages from a website for both adhd and odd. These should be able to tell you the difference better than I can by just writing.

Answer 2

A lot of children are misdiagnosed with ADHD when it may be another problem.  If a child doesn't really have ADHD but instead has another disorder the meds can make it worse.  What meds is he on?  Some are worse than others.  

Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a psychiatric behavior disorder that is characterized by aggressiveness and a tendency to purposefully bother and irritate others. These behavioral symptoms cause significant difficulties with family and friends and at school or work and test everyone around them.

I guess the differences I would notice would be that with ADHD there is hyperness they can't control and lack of impulse control that again they can't control and an inability to pay attention due to such a short attention span caused by a wondering mind that thinks about to many things at one.  ODD seems to be more of doing things on purpose with the ability to control it if they wanted and they are more aggressive and go against the rules on purpose.

Answer 3

it is opposositioal defiance discorder. ADHD meds can make it worse, ODD they will say no and defy all the time. My friends son will say No even as he is going to do it.

Answer 4

If I were you I'd take my child off the meds, especially if it is causing adverse effects. Honestly, I think MANY kids diagnosed have NOTHING wrong with them. I think now days people just forget kids are kids and expext too much. Sit still at that desk, be quiet while someone gabs on endlessly, pay attention for 8 hours, then go home and do an hour or to of homework. I think some kids just dont handle pressure as well as others and the teachers get frustraighted, and the EASY answer is to dope them up so they dont fidget, or get up and down, or look around the room. Then when you are just talking about BEHAVIOR, the kid is out of controll, saying and doing bad things, I think NOT ALWAYS but more often then not it is simply a lack of firm parental controll and meds, once again are the easy way out. Now I am not saying this is what you are doing, but I would strongly question wether or not something was truly wrong with my child, or were they just being a kid, or maybe lacking proper disciplin. Please dont let the doctors dope your child up, doctors and teachers alike do not know everything, and you are mom, YOU know better then anyone.