The first time I met Jacob’s mother, she came into my office in tears.
“You won’t like my son,” she said. “A typical day is one where he gets up on the wrong side of bed. He doesn’t like the cereal we have and won’t get ready for school. He annoys his sister all day long and blames her when he gets in trouble. He can argue with me about anything – his shirt is too ‘itchy,’ or he doesn’t want to wear a coat even when it’s freezing outside.”
ODD typically begins before age eight, and children with the disorder often save their worst behaviors for those they know well, so it can be difficult to diagnose. Learn more about ODD, including how it's assessed and treated, on our website.
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