Why Does my Child with ADHD Seem so Angry?

It’s common for a child to have ADHD and for it to come with a host of other comorbid conditions, and one that often gets overlooked is the link between ADHD and ODD. This could be due to the age of your child, family genetics etc. but it could be that alongside dealing with the differences in their brain, they are also struggling with defiance.

It is most common to associate a child’s ADHD with difficulties in the classroom but oftentimes aggression and a defiant temperament get overlooked. Let’s take a look at what ODD is, how it is linked to ADHD, and what you can do to manage your child’s symptoms.

ADHD and ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder)

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder which displays consistent patterns of attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity across more than 2 settings, such as school, work, and home. There are 3 types of ADHD:

• Inattentive – marked by difficulty sustaining attention, organisation issues, and forgetfulness.

• Hyperactive/ Impulsive – characterised by excessive movement, fidgeting, restlessness, and impulsive actions.

• Combined – marked by symptoms of inattention, and hyperactivity and impulsivity.

Children with ODD show patterns of angry, violent, and disruptive behaviour towards their primary and secondary caregivers, and people of authority. Up to 40% of children with ADHD are also thought to have ODD, and it is more commonly diagnosed before puberty in boys and after puberty in both genders.

It is difficult to recognise the line between normal, childhood defiance and ODD and the lack of research explains why professionals often disagree on whether a child should be diagnosed with ODD. The most reliable choice for a parent to make is to assess how you feel your child’s behaviour compares to others their own age and if you are struggling with their behaviour, then it may be time to seek professional help.

Recognising the Signs of ODD.

One of the big markers to tell whether a child’s behaviour is a consequence of ADHD or a sign of ODD is to look at how they start/ complete a task. With ADHD, there is usually no problem starting a task, it is finishing that is difficult and with ODD, it’s starting the task that’s the problem.

Impulsivity and Defiance: Which ADHD Type ODD is Most Commonly Found.

There are 2 dimensions to ADHD, the emotional and social components. Frustrations, impatience, and anger are part of the emotional component and arguing and defiance are part of the social. Children with the inattentive type of ADHD are less likely to have ODD, this is because they are usually better at controlling their emotions than those with hyperactivity and impulsiveness. This type of ADHD is where you will usually find an ODD diagnosis.

Tips for Parents: How to Manage ADHD and ODD.

ADHD should be checked and brought under control before tackling your child’s ODD, as when you reduce a child’s hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and inattention, it’s likely you will see an improvement in oppositional behaviour also. Traditional stimulant medication has been shown to reduce the impairments of ADHD and ODD by up to 50% in more than 25 published studies. It is possible for non-stimulant medication to help too, such as Atomoxetine, which significantly reduces symptoms of ADHD and ODD.

Behavioural therapy is also a great tool to help your child’s ODD. If you’d like to chat about this in more detail, contact us at Beyond- we are happy to advise.  

When to Book Your Child an ADHD Assessment.

Tackling your child’s ADHD is a top priority and booking in for a child ADHD assessment at an ADHD clinic is the best way to go. NHS waiting lists can be long and rightly if your child’s behaviour is difficult to manage, you will likely want to take action as soon as possible. This way your child will receive an extensive assessment, along with any other comorbid conditions that may come with their ADHD. From here, you can then start to address other worrying behaviours, such as ODD.

Beyond Clinics: A Private ADHD Clinic in Manchester.

Here at Beyond, we provide comprehensive ADHD assessments for children and young people up to their 18th birthday, supported by evidence-based, diagnostic tools and involve input from the child, parents or guardians, and teachers. 

If you would like to contact our friendly and professional team today for a confidential chat either about our ADHD assessment process or for advice on how you can support your child, don’t hesitate. We are a private ADHD clinic in Manchester, and we are here to help you.