Trenna Sutcliffe, M.D.

So learning disabilities are frequently present to kids with ADHD. Or you have oppositional behaviors. So there's often a second condition present in kids with ADHD.

So learning disabilities are frequently present to kids with ADHD. Or you have oppositional behaviors. So there's often a second condition present in kids with ADHD.

So there is a diagnosis out there called oppositional defiant disorder. That is a diagnosis that I don't use quickly or often in young kids when I see oppositional behaviors. This is my personal approach, is that I will say I see a child with oppositional behaviors. What does that mean? It means someone who argues, doesn't follow rules. Disobeys, lies.

So there is a diagnosis out there called oppositional defiant disorder. That is a diagnosis that I don't use quickly or often in young kids when I see oppositional behaviors. This is my personal approach, is that I will say I see a child with oppositional behaviors. What does that mean? It means someone who argues, doesn't follow rules. Disobeys, lies.

So kids with these types of behaviors, I want to understand the why before I jump into saying that they have oppositional defiant disorder. Technically, maybe they meet the criteria. Again, it's the checklist criteria for that name. But to me, that name doesn't help me. It's just a name. It's like, okay, I have a kid with ODD, we call it. It's like, how does that help me? What do I do with that?

So kids with these types of behaviors, I want to understand the why before I jump into saying that they have oppositional defiant disorder. Technically, maybe they meet the criteria. Again, it's the checklist criteria for that name. But to me, that name doesn't help me. It's just a name. It's like, okay, I have a kid with ODD, we call it. It's like, how does that help me? What do I do with that?

So if I see a child with oppositional behaviors, I'm like, okay, what's the function behind that behavior? And so I can come up with reasons for why a child is oppositional. So we all have seen kids who have meltdowns, who fight, who yell, who argue. It's like, what's the function behind that? And so it may be that child is actually anxious.

So if I see a child with oppositional behaviors, I'm like, okay, what's the function behind that behavior? And so I can come up with reasons for why a child is oppositional. So we all have seen kids who have meltdowns, who fight, who yell, who argue. It's like, what's the function behind that? And so it may be that child is actually anxious.

I'll tell you a lot of oppositional behavior in kids is driven by feelings of anxiety and embarrassment. It may be the child is impulsive. That child lies and argues and yells no quickly because they're impulsive and they have untreated ADHD. It could be that child struggles with understanding social contacts and social skills. They actually have trouble with their social reciprocity.

I'll tell you a lot of oppositional behavior in kids is driven by feelings of anxiety and embarrassment. It may be the child is impulsive. That child lies and argues and yells no quickly because they're impulsive and they have untreated ADHD. It could be that child struggles with understanding social contacts and social skills. They actually have trouble with their social reciprocity.

But they're presenting with what looks like oppositional behavior. That child may be sensory overloaded and have challenges processing sensory information and therefore becomes overwhelmed and dysregulated and oppositional. The list goes on. The point is, is like when I see a child with oppositional behavior and a family says, oh, well, someone told us it was ODD. I'm like, now what?

But they're presenting with what looks like oppositional behavior. That child may be sensory overloaded and have challenges processing sensory information and therefore becomes overwhelmed and dysregulated and oppositional. The list goes on. The point is, is like when I see a child with oppositional behavior and a family says, oh, well, someone told us it was ODD. I'm like, now what?

Yes.

Yes.

I agree. And so this is one of the challenging things about my field. And again, I'm going to come back to my boxes. I see a family and I'm actually pretty transparent with the families I work with regarding that we don't know everything. I am really honest with them and transparent because they're like, doctor, what is the diagnosis?

I agree. And so this is one of the challenging things about my field. And again, I'm going to come back to my boxes. I see a family and I'm actually pretty transparent with the families I work with regarding that we don't know everything. I am really honest with them and transparent because they're like, doctor, what is the diagnosis?

And the thing is, is families, they want to find a diagnosis because it helps. It's scary when you don't know what's happening. But I really walk them through that there are these labels and diagnoses, but the risk is that they can see someone in my field and they do testing and you give a diagnosis. Like I have kids, they come with a report, this child has ODD. And I'm like, okay, well,

And the thing is, is families, they want to find a diagnosis because it helps. It's scary when you don't know what's happening. But I really walk them through that there are these labels and diagnoses, but the risk is that they can see someone in my field and they do testing and you give a diagnosis. Like I have kids, they come with a report, this child has ODD. And I'm like, okay, well,

What does that mean? What are we going to do about it? And so the why is so, so very important with, again, comes back to how do we create treatment plans? And it comes back to, again, like I said, you've met one child with ODD, you've met one child with ODD. And ODD to me means actually, I don't even know what to do with that. There's no treatment for ODD.

What does that mean? What are we going to do about it? And so the why is so, so very important with, again, comes back to how do we create treatment plans? And it comes back to, again, like I said, you've met one child with ODD, you've met one child with ODD. And ODD to me means actually, I don't even know what to do with that. There's no treatment for ODD.