1. Emotional Disturbance [505]
Catherine Leber
SPED-431
Mrs. Vogel
September 5, 2017

2. Description
Emotional disturbance is a condition that exhibits one or more of the following characteristics to a marked degree over a long period of time:
(1) An inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors;
(2) An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers;
(3) Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances;
(4) A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression; or
(5) A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems.

3. Criteria
A student may be identified as emotionally disturbed if the following requirements are met:
(1) The student demonstrates serious behavior problems over a long period of time, generally at least six months, with documentation from the school and one or more other sources of the frequency and severity of the targeted behaviors;
(2) The student’s performance falls two standard deviations or more below the mean in emotional functions, as measured in school and home or community on nationally-normed technically adequate measures; and
(3) An adverse effect on educational performance is verified through the full and individual evaluation procedures as provided in § 24:05:25:04.
A student may not be identified as having an emotional disturbance if common disciplinary problem behaviors, such as truancy, smoking, or breaking school conduct rules, are the sole criteria for determining the existence of an emotional disturbance.

4. Prevalence Facts
About 1% of all students have an emotional disturbance.
Emotional Disturbance affects 5.96% of students in special education services
Boys outnumber girls in this category about 4:1
Researches believe this is because boys have a tendency to externalize behaviors more than girls
Emotional disturbance is typically diagnosed in students ages 12-17
At least 10% of people have a serious emotional disturbance at least some point in their life according to research
Less common in early childhood education
Information from Fall of 2010

5. Academic characteristics
Problems with social behavior (less mature or inappropriate social skills)
Not responding to discipline appropriately
Disrespect or harm towards peers and adults
High risk for substance abuse
Be socially immature
Socially isolate themselves
May show symptoms of depression
Selective mutism
Affective disorders
Depression
Severe anxiety disorders
Phobias
Psychosomatic disorders
Academic characteristics
May function 2 or more years below grade level
Lack of social skills needed for school success
Severe deficiencies in metacognitive skills, memory skills, and attention
Students are at high risk for dropping out
But they can attain average, or even above-average academic success
Characteristics

6. Current medical data/records
Areas to be assessed
Academic Achievement
Ability
Adaptive behavior
Behavior
Language
Voice
Current medical data/records
Transition
Development (Adaptive, communication, personal/social-before the age of 9)

7. Chart of eligibility

8. Any questions