Emotional Disturbance

Emotional Disturbance is a disability category of Special Education. Students who qualify for special education under this category have emotional difficulties that are significantly impacting the child's education. The child may or may not have a psychological diagnosis. A child with a diagnosis of anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or others may qualify under this category. However, someone with undiagnosed emotional problems may also qualify. Some believe that students with extreme behavioral problems should qualify under this category. That is not the case. A student can only qualify if it is determined that the behavioral problems are due to an Emotional Disability.

I strongly dislike the term Emotional Disturbance. Some systems will refer to it as Emotional Disability. However, the official name within the federal guidelines is Emotional Disturbance. Personally, I feel that "disturbance" is degrading and really does not describe the child.

IDEIA 2004 Definition of Emotional Disability/Emotional Disturbance

A condition exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics over a long period of time and to a marked degree that adversely affects a child’s educational performance:

• An inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors.
• An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers.
• Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances.
• A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression.
• A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems.

Emotional disability includes schizophrenia. The term does not apply to children who are socially maladjusted, unless it is determined that they have an emotional disturbance.

Check out the chart on School Psychologist Files to see the difference between emotional disturbance and social maladjustment.