Self-Test: Oppositional Defiant Disorder

By Mark Hutten, M.A.
Does your child have Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), or is it just normal moodiness? Take the ODD self-test below to find out.

Signs of Oppositional Defiant Disorder will generally begin before your son or daughter is 8 years old. Occasionally, Oppositional Defiant Disorder can develop later, but it almost always develops before the age of 13.

When Oppositional Defiant Disorder behavior develops, the signs tend to begin gradually, but then worsen over subsequent months and years.
 

Oppositional Defiant Disorder: Self-Test—

My child:
  1. Is often a very negative person. Y or N
  2. Is often disobedient. Y or N
  3. Has had several suspensions and after-school detentions. Y or N
  4. Is often hostile or disrespectful toward authority figures. Y or N
  5. Uses excessive profanity. Y or N
  6. May be experimenting with drugs or alcohol. Y or N
  7. Has severe temper tantrums when things don’t go his/her way. Y or N
  8. Is frequently argumentative with adults. Y or N
  9. Often refuses to follow the rules at home and school. Y or N
  10. Often annoys other people deliberately. Y or N
  11. Usually blames others for his/her mistakes and misbehavior. Y or N
  12. Is touchy and easily annoyed. Y or N
  13. Seems to have a lot of anger. Y or N
  14. Seems to harbor a lot of resentment. Y or N
  15. Can be very vindictive (i.e., seeks revenge against those he/she is mad at). Y or N
  16. Is verbally aggressive toward peers. Y or N
  17. Is physically aggressive toward peers. Y or N
  18. Has difficulty maintaining friendships. Y or N
  19. Is having academic problems (i.e., makes poor grades). Y or N
  20. Seems to have very low self-esteem. Y or N
  21. Does NOT see anything wrong with his/her attitude or behavior. Y or N
  22. Believes that unreasonable demands are being placed on him/her. Y or N
  23. Has been defiant for 6 months or longer. Y or N
  24. Is disruptive to the family. Y or N
  25. Is disruptive to the home environment. Y or N
  26. Is disruptive to the school environment. Y or N
  27. Is persistently defiant (i.e., it occurs nearly every day). Y or N
  28. Does not care about school and is not worried about failing. Y or N
  29. Has threatened to run away – or has run away.
  30. Often says, “I hate __________” (e.g., I hate you … I hate that teacher … I hate school … etc.). Y or N

If you answered ‘yes’ to any 3 of the statements above, it should be a red flag that your child is headed for trouble.

If you answered ‘yes’ to 5 or more, then it is highly likely that he/she has Oppositional Defiant Disorder and should be tested by a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist.

==> Help for Parents with Oppositional Defiant Children and Teens 
 
 
 7 comments:
  • Anonymous...I have 2 diagnosed with odd :(
  • Elizabeth...Yes to 25. Been this way since she came to live with me at 2 yrs of age. She's 11 now. At least it's a place to start. She was diagnosed at 5 with add but that never seemed to me to be the whole answer. Now I know why and all those melt downs at home and at school make more sense.This is such a great site and resource for lost parents and caregivers. Thank you so much for the work you do and all you share here.
  • Kris F...Our 15 year old son is newly diagnosed with ODD and he is yes to 14 of the factors above. This has been an incredibly hard road...
  • Jess...I had 17 yes. Been this way forever. Parents refuse to believe anything is wrong with me.
  •  Unknown...Lmao I said yes to 29 because the only one I'm not is physically aggressive with peers & thats because my severe anxiety holds me back. I was already diagnosed on my IEP, I just wanted to see what symptoms might stem from that.
  • Unknown...I am 14 and just answers at least 15/30 yes is this bad should I tell my parents ?
  • Unknown...Yikes! I am 16 and I have answered yes to most of these. Is it too late for me?

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