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They're also walking IEDs as problem students make new names for themselves.

Kathleen Donaghey
The Sunday Mail (Qld)
August 19, 201212:00AM

Source: The Sunday Mail (Qld)

NAUGHTY kids are turning up to school with notes from doctors who have given their unruly behaviour a medical name - oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).

And children who lash out at teachers or students have also been diagnosed with a condition termed intermittent explosive disorder (IED).

Psychologists are diagnosing ODD - characterised by persistent anti-authoritarian behaviour - at a greater rate than autism. Child psychologist Lisa Good said the condition was real and created a lot of stress for parents, who couldn't understand why their child was mucking up.

Ms Good, from the Psych Professionals in Brisbane, said she had diagnosed more children with ODD and conduct disorders over the past two years than autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or anxiety.

"It is a lot more common. I would say it was the majority of my appointments this year," Ms Good said.

Teachers don't know how to handle the aggressive students and governments do not recognise ODD for special classroom funding.

Queensland Teachers Union president Kevin Bates said schools were having a hard time dealing with the rise in behaviour disorders.

"It has become an extremely significant problem, that's having severe effects on our schools now," Mr Bates said.

"The sorts of things people think are just naughty kids now have a medical diagnosis.

"As (doctors) identify more and more disorders, (parents) expect the system will have a special response."

Mr Bates said unlike with autism, the Government offered no extra help to deal with ODD students, and often they ended up being suspended or excluded.

"It's all good and well to have a name for it, but we're not getting the resources," he said.

Experts estimate ODD could affect up to 10 per cent of children. Intermittent explosive disorder is estimated to affect one in 12 teens.

Toowoomba mum Leanne Potter, whose 10-year-old daughter has ODD and Asperger's, an autism-related disorder that affects communication, said other parents were quick to judge.

"My husband and I work in education, so we had some knowledge of ODD.

"But most people don't and probably think it's a cop-out diagnosis to allow a child to get away with inappropriate or negative behaviour," Mrs Potter said. "I see it as a diagnosis that allows us to find ways to help our gorgeous girl fulfil her potential and become the amazing person we know she is."

Adam Curran, 12, from Brisbane would fight with his teachers, punch other students and cause general mayhem at home.

Teachers didn't know how to handle the angry child diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder.

His mother Heidi described him as a "living nightmare" whose every waking breath was devoted to defiance. Her greatest fear was that her eldest son would one day end up in jail.

Education Queensland deputy director-general Lyn McKenzie said in a statement that ODD students could get special funding if they also had one of six recognised conditions - autism spectrum disorder, hearing impairment, intellectual impairment, physical impairment, speech-language impairment or vision impairment.

"All Queensland state schools students have access to guidance support, behaviour support, speech-language therapy and learning support in addition to teacher and teacher aide time," the statement said.

Child behaviour expert Mark Dadds said ODD was "very common" and was linked to - but not always caused by - poor parenting.

Prof Dadds said one of the best forms of treatment was parent training, but only a "small percentage" of children were receiving appropriate intervention.

What do you think? Email yournews@thesundaymail. com.au or write to us at GPO Box 130, Brisbane, 4001.

Comments (144)

BCEIPosted at 5:36 PM August 19, 2012

Check out "The Owner's Guide to the Teenage Brain" if this interests you.
Parent of two of SydneyPosted at 5:25 PM August 19, 2012

I had to check the date on this article to see if it was April Fools Day. ODD - what an absolute crock.
JanePosted at 4:56 PM August 19, 2012

My sons occasionally got these disorders. When it happened I gave them a whack on the back of the legs and bam, they were cured. In an instant. Like magic. Two beautiful, well mannered, respectful teenagers now (usually).