by admin on March 5, 2012
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is a common childhood disorder characterized by rebellious behavior with adults and other children. A child with ODD will often display a number of warning signs, such as temper tantrums, irritability, problems acknowledging parental authority, blaming others and hostile or vengeful behavior. Though many children periodically display these signs, it is important to note that true ODD involves persistent and frequent symptoms.
Parents who suspect that their child has mild Oppositional Defiant Disorder may wish to explore other possible solutions before seeking psychiatric help. These parents can try positive reinforcement, setting consequences for bad behavior and ensuring that both parents are managing their own stress appropriately. Children need good role models from whom to learn good behavior, so parents are often advised to assess their own behavior when it comes to conflict, confrontation and anxiety.
The most common treatment for ODD involves a combination of education and therapy. The educational aspect of treatment is twofold. First, it is intended to teach the child that his or her actions are inappropriate. The second part of the educational process teaches the parents appropriate responses to oppositional or defiant behavior. Parents are taught about proper discipline, rule- and limit-setting. Therapy, whether as an individual or a family, will help with the emotional and behavioral aspects of treatment. In some cases, the treatment team may also recommend psychiatric medications.
Psychiatrists have identified several possible causes for ODD. Some suggest that ODD can be traced back to developmental factors, while some claim that the disorder is learned; still others believe that it is a result of overly permissive parenting. There are also theories that point to underlying neurological problems, or suggest that ODD occurs most commonly in certain personality types. Whatever the cause, the disorder can create difficulties in school and home life, so it is important to address issues as they arise.
References:
http://web1.tch.harvard.edu/az/Site1385/mainpageS1385P1.html
http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/qf/behaviorprob_qt/ODD.pdf
http://aacap.org/page.ww?name=Children+with+Oppositional+Defiant+Disorder§ion=Facts+for+Families
by admin on March 5, 2012
How to describe the complexities of life as a 14 year old boy? Hormones are raging and his body is changing before his eyes. A 14 year old boy is no longer a child and he is not a man. He must deal with peer pressure, sexuality, self-esteem, role expectations and social values just to identify a few of his life’s complications.
Parents are often at a loss as to how they put a sweet, gentle, eager to please, affectionate little boy to bed and woke up to a sullen, confused, cold, angry stranger. It is little wonder the “typical” 14 year old boy behavior is considered volatile and highly combustible even under “normal” circumstances.
Teenagers in generally suffer information overload and the subsequent anxiety. Bombarded with hype on how to be cool, how to be popular, how to be a sports star or rock star from any number of prolific role models is constantly pushed from movie and television screens, the Internet and print media. Adolescence has long been recognized as a time of high anxiety regardless of the socio economic rank of the individual. The conditions teenagers are confronted with today take previous levels to a new high. Parents, teachers, counselors, health care professionals; any individual concerned with teenagers must arm themselves with information if they are to be effective in understanding and maximizing their function and interaction with the adolescent. Learning from the research and experience of experts may be utilized to improve coping, intervention and overall relationships with the teen. Fortunately, there is a wealth of information available relative to the behavior of the 14 year old male and beyond.
One such study of interest is authored by Yale University’s Kathleen London. London’s concise curriculum is designed to provide a point of departure for examining, Teenage Boys: Perspectives on the Adolescent Males Development in an Urban Setting. This guide includes the preface, “Communication between adults and adolescents is not always easy, nor is communication between the adolescents themselves. While this unit cannot answer all the questions, it will hopefully provide a guide to the sensitive presentation of information which might heighten the adolescent male’s self awareness.” London’s entire curriculum including sample lessons and discussion exercises is available at: http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1981/3/81.03.05.x.html#a.
Many articles provide tools for communication with the adolescent male. While understanding protocol and enhancing discussion techniques is essential in establishing and maintaining relationship, the physical changes occurring during male adolescence must be equally considered. Discussion of healthy physical development is particularly sensitive to the foundation of young men’s sexuality. A published study written by Mary Ott, MD, Indiana School of Medicine, Examining the Development and Sexual Behavior of Adolescent Males provides a clinical insight in to the physical attributes that may contribute to the male adolescent behavior. Ott introduces her research objective with the observation, “The lack of attention to adolescent male sexual health is not surprising, and may stem from cultural views of male adolescence. “ The complete research study may be downloaded at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2858917/.
Society is finally willing to overcome flawed conventional wisdom and cultural assumptions about male adolescence. Efforts to understand the fusion of the physical and sexual development of the male teen and managing tools to communicate and build relationships are equally essential in understanding the behavior of the 14 year old boy. Monica Mapass of Channel 6ABC in Philadelphia, PA provides the informative and resourceful news segment, Parenting Perspectvie. In a recent article Mapass reviewed Normal Behavior of 14- year- old. The clip concluded with the observation, “There is a positive long-term outcome if you can survive this tricky phase. It helps prepare your teens to become devoted, disciplined, loving partners and citizens as adults. You both will get through this stage and your kind, motivated young person will reemerge.” Great encouragement to hold on to! Mapass’ full report may be viewed by visiting; http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/parenting&id=7358198.
