What are the signs of emotional disability in school?

The following behaviors displayed consistently by a student may lead educators and parents to suspect and subsequently pursue assessment for special education/IEP under emotional disability:

• Hyperactivity (having a short attention span, lacking focus in class and at home, engaging in impulsive actions, being unable to stay in their seat, distracting their classmates);
• Aggression or self-injurious behavior (acting out, fighting with classmates, yelling, using profanity and displaying antagonism, issuing threats of violence toward themself and others);
• Withdrawal (not interacting socially with others, not answering when spoken to, displaying excessive fear or anxiety, being truant, eloping);
• Immaturity (inappropriate crying or temper tantrums, poor coping skills, talking overly loudly, experiencing inexplicable phobias); and
• Learning difficulties (not completing assignments, performing below grade level academically).
• Children with more intense ED needs may also exhibit distorted thinking, excessive anxiety, bizarre motor acts, and abnormal mood swings. This can also make them more vulnerable to getting involved with criminal activity and use of illegal drugs.

For more information, see our full article about emotional disability in the IEP.