Emotional Disturbances and Learning

Image retrieved from Pixabay Free Illustrations (2015)
https://pixabay.com/en/intelligence-brain-mind-mindset-544406/

Our brains are the center of our identity, emotions, ability to learn and function. When one part of the brain is struggling, the whole complex system is affected. When emotions and stress are overwhelming or out of control, it is very difficult to learn.

If a student or child is struggling with aggression, prolonged sadness or loneliness, or is in danger of harming themselves or others, parents and teachers will want to do everything in their power to help that child. It is possible that the student is struggling with emotional disturbance. About eight percent of children, aged 6-21 years old, are diagnosed with emotional disturbance. This is different from a mental illness, which is a medical diagnosis. 

Emotional Disturbance: 

• Can be temporary or long term
• Often cannot be directly connected to one known cause
• Is possibly caused by one or more of the following factors:
• biological (genetics, body chemistry, and brain or nervous system development, concussion or brain injury) 
• environmental (family, relationship, school or surroundings)
• cultural (conflicts between self and religion, identity, social issues)
• Affects students in more than one environment, such as school, home, or neighborhood. 
• Is diagnosed by observations from parents, teachers, and other school professionals. Parents, teachers and school psychologists use checklists and observations to determine if a student is struggling with emotional disturbance.

The purpose of diagnosing a child who is struggling with an emotional disturbance is to  make sure that the child gets fair and equitable treatment from all teachers, and full access to a fair and appropriate public education. 

Signs of Emotional Disturbance: 

• Socially immature or inappropriate
• Aggressive with friends or peers
• Accidentally or purposefully harms self or others
• Excessive "acting out" in class or at home
• Often ignores or breaks rules at school and at home
• Does not learn from or respond to discipline, rewards or consequences
• Withdrawn for an extended amount of time
• No interaction with family, teachers or friends and in extreme cases, not speaking

Ultimately, teachers and parents want to support all children as they grow and learn. You and your child have rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to ensure that, if your child does have an emotional disturbance, he or she still receives a fair and appropriate public education. If you or your teacher are worried about your child's emotional state, communicate and collaborate to support your child toward success in and out of school. Use the links at the top of this blog to find resources that can help you and your family know more about what your child is expected to learn in school and resources that can support you and your family.