Emotional

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Emotional BehavioralDisabilities

• Jennipher Spector

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Definition

• IDEA Public Law 101-476
• ...a condition exhibiting one or more of the
  following characteristics over a long period of
  time and to a marked degree that adversely
  affects 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.
• Code of Federal Regulations, Title 34, Section
  300.7(b)(9)

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History

• 1975 - IDEA
• counseling services
• 1984 - CASSP (Child and Adolescent Service
  System Program)
• community-based systems
• 1990 - National Agenda for Achieving Better
  Results for Children and Youth with Serious
  Emotional Disturbance (reauthorization of IDEA)
• expanding positive learning opportunities
• strengthening school and community capacity
• addressing issues of diversity
• collaborating with families
• promoting appropriate assessment
• providing ongoing skill development
• creating comprehensive and collaborative systems

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Possible Causes

• Genetics
• Chemical imbalance
• Head injury
• Exposure to environmental toxins (e.g., lead
  poisoning)
• Exposure to violence (e.g., physical or sexual
  abuse)
• Stress related to chronic poverty,
  discrimination, or other serious hardships
• Death of a loved one, divorce, or broken
  relationships

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How the Child May Feel

• Persistent feelings of sadness and hopeless for
  no reason (depressed)
• Very angry most of the time and crying a lot or
  overreacting
• Worthless or guilty
• Anxious or worried
• Extremely fearful
• Overwhelmed
• Constantly concerned about physical problems or
  physical appearance
• Frightened that his or her mind either is
  controlled by someone/something else or is out of
  control
• Hearing voices
• Racing thoughts
• Persistent nightmares
• Suicidal thoughts

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Signs of Mental Disabilities

• Declining performance in school
• Losing interest in things once enjoyed
• Changes in sleeping or eating patterns
• Avoiding friends or family or trouble making
  friends
• Daydreaming and not completing tasks
• Inability to sit still or focus attention
• Indecisiveness
• Eating disorders
• Obsessive/compulsive behavior
• Arson, vandalism, lying, stealing
• Aggressive behavior (fighting, name-calling,
  defiance)
• Self-destructive or dangerous behavior
• Disregard for other people / animals
• Threats of suicide

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Anxiety Disorders

• Phobia - an unrealistic and overwhelming fear of
  some object or situation
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder - a pattern of
  excessive, unrealistic worry not attributable to
  any recent experience
• Panic Disorder - terrifying panic attacks that
  include physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat
  and dizziness
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - being trapped in
  a pattern of repeated thoughts and behaviors such
  as counting or hand washing
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - flashbacks after
  experiencing a psychologically distressing event
  such as physical or sexual abuse, being a victim
  or witness of violence, or another traumatic event

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Oppositional Defiant Disorder / Conduct Disorder

• frequent temper tantrums
• excessive arguing with adults
• active defiance and refusal to comply with adult
  requests and rules
• deliberate attempts to annoy or upset people
• blaming others for his or her mistakes or
  misbehavior
• Touchy or easily annoyed
• frequent anger and resentment
• mean and hateful talking when upset
• seeking revenge

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Schizophrenia

• Trouble discerning dreams (or TV/movies) from
  reality
• Seeing things and hearing voices that are not
  real
• Confused thinking
• Vivid and bizarre thoughts and ideas
• Extreme moodiness
• Peculiar behavior
• Concept that people are out to get them
• Extremely immature behavior
• Severe anxiety and fearfulness
• Severe problems in making and keeping friends

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Bipolar Disorder (Manic-Depression)

• Manic Symptoms
• Severe changes in mood
• Unrealistic highs in self-esteem
• Sleeps little without being tired
• Excessive involvement in multiple projects and
  activities, but easily distracted
• Talks too much, too fast, changes topics too
  quickly, and cannot be interrupted.
• Risk-taking behavior

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Bipolar Disorder (Manic-Depression)

• Depressive Symptoms
• Frequent sadness or crying
• Withdrawal from friends and activities
• Decreased energy level, lack of enthusiasm or
  motivation
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
• Extreme sensitivity to rejection or failure
• Major changes in habits such as over-sleeping or
  over-eating
• Frequent physical complaints such as headaches
  and stomachaches
• Recurring thoughts of death, suicide, or
  self-destructive behavior

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Depression

• Persistent sadness
• Withdrawal from family, friends and activities
  that were once enjoyed
• Increased irritability or agitation
• Changes in eating and sleeping habits (e.g.,
  significant weight loss, insomnia, excessive
  sleep)
• Frequent physical complaints, such as headaches
  and stomachaches
• Lack of enthusiasm or motivation
• Decreased energy level and chronic fatigue
• Play that involves excessive aggression toward
  self or others, or that involves persistently sad
  themes
• Indecision, lack of concentration or
  forgetfulness
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
• Recurring thoughts of death or suicide

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Goals of IEP

• Improve academic interest and performance
• Improve social skills
• Increase self-awareness
• Increase self-control
• Increase self-esteem

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Classroom Management Strategies

• Foster creativity
• Behavior modification
• Behavior contracts
• Flexibility
• Organization / consistency
• Focus on positive behavior
• Teach emotional vocabulary
• Listen

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Works Cited

• Anxiety Disorders and Kids. National Mental
  Health Association. Retrieved January 28, 2007
  from http//www.mentalhealthamerica.net/index.cfm?
  objectidC7DF9175-1372-4D20-C8F42EED1A02E8D0
• Bipolar Disorder in Children. National Mental
  Health Association. Retrieved January 28, 2007
  from http//www.mentalhealthamerica.net/index.cfm?
  objectidCA866DAF-1372-4D20-C8023899E7497020
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health. United
  States Department of Health and Human Services
  Center for Mental Health Services. Retrieved
  January 28, 2007from http//mentalhealth.samhsa.g
  ov/publications/allpubs/Ca-0004/default.asp

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Works Cited (cont.)

• Conduct Disorder. National Mental Health
  Association. Retrieved January 28, 2007 from
  http//www.mentalhealthamerica.net/index.cfm?objec
  tidCA866D03-1372-4D20-C889335CD4995E6B
• Depression in Children. National Mental Health
  Association. Retrieved January 28, 2007 from
  http//cms.nmha.org/index.cfm?objectidCA866E0D-13
  72-4D20-C8872863D2EE2E90
• Pierangelo, R. and Giuliani G. (2001). What Every
  Teacher Should Know about Students with Special
  Needs Promoting Success in the Classroom.
  Champaign, IL Research Press.
• Schizophrenia in Children. National Mental Health
  Association. Retrieved January 28, 2007 from
  http//www.mentalhealthamerica.net/index.cfm?objec
  tIdC7DF8F81-1372-4D20-C84C5539FAB14576