What Is Oppositional Defiant Disorder And Could My Child Have It?

Levels Of Severity With ODD

It is vital to note not all patients with oppositional defiant disorder are exceptionally defiant or disruptive. The three levels of severity in ODD are mild, moderate, and severe. Parents and educators may be able to develop an approximate idea of what level a child falls on, but the final determination of severity is still left to the medical professional.

Mild oppositional defiant disorder includes symptoms only occurring in one setting (e.g., only at home but not at school). Moderate ODD means the symptoms may occur in two settings (e.g., at home as well as at school). Severe cases mean the patient exhibits symptoms in virtually any setting. In some cases, children can begin to exhibit symptoms in one area, but then the symptoms extend to other settings over time. This is why the timing requirement is so important for an accurate diagnosis.

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