[FACTS]

[ED doesnt just

affect a childs
emotional well-being,
but can also affect
their physical, social,
and cognitive skills

[EMOTIONAL
DISTURBANCE
IN CHILDREN]

as well]

[Emotional
disturbance can be
temporary or
permanent]

BY: ASHLEY BRIGHTLY

[What Is It?]
Emotional Disturbance (ED) is an umbrella term that encompasses a wide
range of behavioral disorders in children which include (but are not limited to):

Anxiety disorders

Bipolar disorder

Conduct disorders

Eating disorders

Obsessive compulsive disorder

Psychotic disorders

Others

[Federal Definition]
...a condition exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics over a long

[All children with ED

have individual
strengths, which
might include
independence,
passion, and
attention to detail]

[Nearly 2.9 million

children have been
prescribed medicine
to treat emotional or

[What Causes It?]

There are no known causes for emotional disturbances in children,
but some factors that can contribute might include:

[Tips For Teachers]

- Focus on students

Hereditary

strengths and

Brain disorder

inclusion

[How Do I Accommodate My Classroom and Lesson

Plans?]

Discover which way the student learns best (e.g. visual,

auditory, tactile, etc.) and modify your lessons to allow that
student to participate in this way.
When a student follows directions properly, reward with
praise and recognition as often as possible.
Each time you give a consequence, verbally explain why
If a child has great difficulty with a specific task, break it
down into smaller tasks for them, and praise each
accomplishment.
Arrange your classroom into separate areas that have
distinct purposes
Establish a quiet space for children with ED for moments
when they might need to cool down.

[What Else Can I Do?]

Keep in contact with the students parents. It is important to

work out a behavior plan that will ensure consistency both
at school and at home.
Use communication with parents as a tool to plan and
discover how the student learns best.

support their
- Set clear rules with
consistent
consequences
- Communicate
consistently with
students parents
through email,
conferences, phone,
etc.
- Be aware of visual
cues that student
might exhibit before
a disturbance, and
try to then prevent
them
- Be patient and stay
calm!

TEACHER RESOURCES
www.parentcenterhub.org
www.idea.ed.gov
www.aacap.org