Because Disruptive Behavior Disorders are most common among children and adolescents, it is all too easy for caretakers to assume the symptoms are simply expressions of natural childhood behaviors. Indeed, it is natural for children and adolescents to disobey, be argumentative and lose their concentration. But when the behaviors affect school performance or are age-inappropriate, they may be symptoms of a Disruptive Behavior Disorder. Lantern offers specialized treatment for various childhood psychiatric disorders. The following encompasses symptoms and treatment our clinic offers for various Disruptive Behavior Disorders.
Attention Deficit Disorder
ADD affects a significant number of school-age children and can persist through adolescence into adulthood. Symptoms of this disorder include difficulty maintaining concentration on work or play activities, trouble following instructions and completing tasks, and an inability to follow a conversation on a specific subject for more than a few minutes. Although most children experience difficulty with maintaining focus, the severity and persistence of these symptoms can make daily activities particularly challenging to children with this disorder. If you suspect your child or adolescent may have ADD, or if you suspect you may have an adult for form of this disorder, it is critical that you obtain a professional diagnosis. Lantern offers mental health practitioners with extensive experience diagnosing and treating this disorder.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Difficulty concentrating, inability to maintain discussions on a single topic, and all other symptoms of attention deficit disorder are present with ADHD. However, sufferers of this disorder cope with their concentration difficulties by engaging in hyperactive behavior. Those affected by this disorder may find themselves constantly fidgeting, experiencing excessive levels of impatience, repeatedly interrupting others’ conversations and activities, and being unable to resist acting out on impulses. Because ADHD is similar, but not identical to ADD, it is important to differentiate between the two in order to receive the most effective treatment. Lantern specialized mental health professionals have extensive experience in diagnosing and treating this disorder.
Oppositional Defiance Disorder
It is natural for children and adolescents to throw tantrums, talk back, and express other forms of defiance. However, minors with oppositional defiance disorder exhibit hostility to such a degree that their behavior negatively impacts their lives and the lives their caretakers. Signs of ODD may include spiteful and vengeful behavior, frequent outbursts of anger, confrontational posture, plain refusal to comply with rules, verbal obscenities, and deliberate attempts to be antagonistic and disruptive towards others. If you suspect your child is at risk for this disorder, you can book an appointment with our intake specialist today to determine the best course of action.
