Emotionally disturbed is a diagnostic term that describes a population of children who have behavioral or emotional issues so different from the general population that these behaviors seriously impact their ability to perform academically and socially interact with others in an acceptable manner.
Emotionally disturbed children lack the ability to behave in an acceptable manner consistently in a social environment such as school. To be considered and classified emotionally disturbed, specific criteria must be met based on federal legislation which includes:
(1)the child has difficulty learning which is not associated with a health factor, cognitive ability, or sensory issues; (2)the child has difficulty with his interpersonal relationships with classmates and adults; (3)the child demonstrates unusual types of behavior in normal circumstances; (4)the child appears depressed or generally unhappy; (5) the child becomes physically ill or demonstrates fears associated with school. The classification of emotionally disturbed can only be made by a certified psychologist based on data collected over a period of time.
The determination of emotional disturbance should not be the result of a temporary traumatic event in the life of a child. Careful consideration should be given to the immediate influences that the child is subjected to in his environment. Also inappropriate behaviors of emotionally disturbed children should be observable in several settings including home and school and charted to determine the frequency. Typically emotionally disturbed children may also exhibit a number of other psychiatric disorders.
Emotionally disturbed children account for approximately one percent of the school age student population, and the causes of emotional disturbance are not completely known at this time. Some professionals advocate the cause as neurobiological. The area of the brain that regulates impulsivity, attention span, and behavior may be underactive. Others believe that the emotionally disturbed child is a product of his environment which includes poverty, single family homes, or being a minority. Research indicates that a higher percentage of boys are classified as emotionally disturbed. These children seem to obtain the most benefit from an individualized education program that targets their specific needs rather than the traditional educational program.
For emotionally disturbed children, early intervention is important. If you suspect that your child may need early intervention, special education services are available through the local school system.