Introduction to Exceptional Development

Dr. Radhika Kapur

Abstract
There are children as well as adults who are exceptionally different from the other
normal human beings. These differences are on the basis of possession of some skills and
talents or on the basis of any kinds of disorders, difficulties and impairments. The children
who are suffering from any kinds of disorders or impairments or disabilities make use of the
assistant services and devices, so that they are also able to enhance their educational and
literacy skills and understand. Braille large print books, canes, hearing aids, proper sitting
facilities and so forth are the various kinds of devices that are used in order to facilitate the
learning of the children with disorders, disabilities and impairments. On the other hand,
exceptional children are also considered to be the children who possess some skills and
talents from their early childhood stage. In this research paper, focus has been put upon
exceptional development of children. The main areas that have been highlighted are,
understanding exceptional development, exceptional development of communication,
categories of exceptionality, services to exceptional development, and exceptional student
education for gifted children. In understanding of exceptional development, there are two
important areas that need to be understood, the categories that come under exceptionality and
the services that are available to exceptional development. It is vital for the individuals who
are researching upon this area to know the definitions, causes, psychological and behavioural
characteristics, and educational approaches. Exceptional development is an important concept
in all societies and countries, the parents and the individuals who are working with these
children should illustrate enthusiasm and interest in their work.

Keywords: Exceptional Development, Children, Teachers, Behaviour,

Communication, Impairments

Introduction
Exceptional children are those who are different from certain norms to such an extent
that they require adjustment of school practices or special educational services or
interventions. They normally differ in various aspects, such as their behaviours, attitudes,
ways of communication from the other children and require some kind of assistance. The
assistance may be medical, educational, family and so forth, with the aim of fulfilling their
potential. There have been various areas, in which children differ, these areas are with respect
to intellectual giftedness and special talent, variations in the behaviour, such as children who
are emotionally disturbed or socially maladjusted usually experience attitudinal and
behavioural problems. Learning difficulties are experienced by these kinds of children, and
they undergo problems in communicating with the other individuals such as speech and
language disorders (Heeraman, n.d.).

There are other kinds of problems that make these children differ from the other
children, these are, sensory differences, hearing, vision, or mild, i.e. they are not able to see
the writing on the blackboard within the classroom or are unable to hear the instructions
clearly, if they are sitting behind in the class. These problems may assume a severe form,
when more specialized attention is needed. Physical impairments are another reasons that
lead to differences in conduct. Chronic health problems, such as asthma, diabetes or allergies
etc. does affect the health of an individual. Children who are abused and neglected are quite
introverted in nature and also possess different behavioural traits (Heeraman, n.d.).

Understanding Exceptional Development

The differences between normal children and exceptional development of children are
understood with respect to their behaviours, ways of communication and learning. When a
child is normal, then he is able to understand gradually the world around him, he is able to
identify certain objects, he learns how to communicate effectively, he identifies his family
members and goes to school and learns. The learning of the child begins with play and he is
able to feel fascinated by various kinds of playthings. On the other hand, children who
experience exceptional development, they depict various kinds of problems with respect to
their behaviours, they are not able to communicate with the other individuals in a normal
manner due to problems such as, autism, hearing impairment, language impairment, speech
impairment and learning disability. Learning disability is a disorder, which is because of the
problems such as vision impairment, hearing impairment, cultural and language differences,
emotional disturbances, brain injury, brain dysfunction, dyslexia, developmental aphasia, and
perceptual handicap.

A young child always requires care and affection from his parents, other family
members and teachers in school, when a child is deprived of care and affection, he develops
anger, frustration, stress and other emotional problems within himself. He does not take
interest in studies nor play activities and usually feels depressed and possesses an introvert
nature. In India and in other countries of the world as well, there are children who are
neglected and abused, these children turn out to be depicting behavioural and attitudinal
problems. The children who are only children of their parents and do not have siblings, they
too sometimes develop behavioural problems. Only children turn out in an unpleasant
manner, they are at times not adjustable, they face problems in interacting with the other
people around and in making friends, they at times do not possess a caring and a sharing
nature and usually think of themselves, they are achievement oriented, and think how they
can do well in all kinds of activities that they undertake.

There are children who depict developmental disabilities and delays. In majority of
the cases, children start out with developmental delays (Laffranchini, n.d.), developmental
delay is when an older child behaves like a child of a much younger age, when a fifteen year
old child enjoys playing with toys of a three year old child, then it shows that he is suffering
from developmental delay and is also suffering from abnormal growth. There are certain
procedures and methods that are required to be adopted in order to treat these kinds of
children, they take remedies and solutions to the problems, and with the course of
interventions, their problems get solved and they turn out to be normal. There are some
impairments that are serious but they do not prove to be hindrances within the course of the
individual’s development, for instance, there are children who suffer from visual
impairments, but their parents and they themselves contribute in developing certain skills and
talents amongst them such as music, painting, singing etc. Children with visual impairments
achieve higher education and usually get engaged into various tasks and functions with their
dedication and hard work.

Exceptional Development of Communication

Communication is considered to be the most imperative area for every individual,

whether he goes to school or gets involved with the family members or gets engaged in any
other activity, he is required to communicate with the other people around him. Exceptional
children do experience problems in communicating and these have been classified as follows:
(Categories of Exceptionalities and Definitions, 2001).

Autism – It is a severe learning disorder that is characterized by problems within the

course of educational development. A person experiences problems in relating to the
environment; other areas such as mobility, perception, speech and language of a person is not
completely normal and there is lack of representational symbolic behaviour that precedes
language. The major problems of the children with autism are, speech problems and
behavioural problems.

Hearing Impairment – This is an impairment, when an individual experiences hearing

problems. When he is not able to adequately listen to what the other people are speaking to
him, then this is referred to as hearing impairment. It is an impairment that is characterized by
deficits in language and speech development due to the weakened or non-existent auditory
response to sound.

Language Impairment – It is a learning disorder that is characterized by an

impairment in comprehension and or use of verbal communication and written
communication. These are associated with neurological, psychological, physical or sensory
factors. In this case, an individual may suffer from the problems of language delay,
dysfluency and voice and articulation development, which may or may not be organically or
functionally based. It may also involve one or more form of language in communication.

Speech Impairment – It is the disorder in the language formulation that may be

associated with neurological, psychological, physical or sensory factors, that involves
perceptual motor aspects of conveying oral messages. In this case, individuals encounter
problems in their speech; the characteristics may be impairment in articulation, voicing,
regularity, rhythm and stress.

Learning Disability – It is a disorder in both academic and social situations that

involves one or more processes that may be vital for the efficient utilization of the
communication process and understanding of signs and symbols. There are various signs of
learning disabilities, such as, deficits in intellectual abilities, reading, writing and solving
numerical problems; unable to identify cultural differences, unable to recall and remember
certain things that have been communicated earlier, having problems in language processing,
such as conceptualizing, thinking and integrating and undergoing emotional disorders.

Categories of Exceptionality

Various other categories that identify the exceptionality of the individuals have been
stated as follows: (Categories of Exceptionalities and Definitions, 2001).

Behaviour – Behaviour has multiple meanings, it is referred to the actions,

performances, conduct, manners, activities and comportment of the individuals. The
problems that are associated with one’s behaviour are considered to be the learning disorders
that develop over a period of time. These behaviour problems prove to be adverse and
negatively affect any kinds of tasks and activities that a person is involved in. The
educational performance of an individual gets affected, i.e. he is not able to score well in
class tests and assessments; he suffers from the inability to maintain interpersonal
relationships; a person experiences excessive fears and anxieties, he sometimes feels troubled
in even going outside his house; and he experiences inabilities to learn and understand
various things, such as any kinds of skills or proficiencies.

Intellectual – The intellectual abilities amongst the individuals develops into an

unusually advanced levels of intellectual abilities that requires differentiated learning
experiences in the depth and breadth. These individuals possess the intellectual abilities that
are beyond the school curriculum. They possess the general knowledge that is actually
beyond the regular capacity of children from their age. Mild intellectual disability is a
learning disorder that is characterized by possession of the ability to gain academically within
a regular classroom with the help of considerable curriculum modification and supportive
service. Another point is the inability to gain because of slow intellectual development and
possession of a potential for academic learning, autonomous social adjustment and economic
self-support. Another area is developmental disability, individuals experience intellectual
disabilities because of slow intellectual development; there is establishment of special
education programs, so that students are able to benefit from them and this problem makes
provision of less room for academic learning, autonomous social adjustment and economic
self-support.

Physical – Physical disabilities are the disabilities that requires the utilization of
particular devices in order to learn and understand in an operative manner. It is a condition of
serious physical limitation and deficiency that requires special assistance within the learning
situations. The special assistance services and the devices are utilized in order to make
provision of the opportunities for educational attainment that is equivalent to the individuals
without any kinds of exceptionalities who are of the same age or developmental level. Visual
impairment is considered to be an imperative area that is under the category of physical
exceptional development. It is a condition of partial or total impairment of sight or vision,
that affects the educational performance of an individual in an opposing manner. Hearing
impairment is another area, in this case, normally the hearing aids are put into the years of an
individual in order to facilitate listening.
 Multiple – Under multiple exceptionalities, it is a combination of learning and other
disorders, impairments and physical disabilities. The main objective of the individuals is to
attain educational qualifications, learn and develop their intellectual abilities, in spite of
suffering from learning disabilities and various other kinds of impairments and problems. In
this case, the skills and services are utilized of the teachers who are trained in the field of
special education. There are educational programs related to the area of special education, in
this, knowledge and information is provided to the individuals regarding how to deal and
work with children who are suffering from disorders, impairments and physical disabilities.
When special education instructors are involved with these children, they make provision of
support services and devices that are useful for such disorders, difficulties, impairments,
problems and disabilities.

Services to Exceptional Development

The working with children that are experiencing some kinds of disorders, impairments
and disabilities, require various kinds of specialized services and these have been stated as
follows:

Classroom Instruction – The learning and instructional methods that are initiated
within the classroom should be formulated in such a manner that should be clearly
understood by the individuals and they should face any kinds of problems in listening and
understanding of the concepts. The classroom teacher is required to meet with the exceptional
students, able to acquire instructional materials and equipment that may be utilized in an
adequate manner and should prove to be beneficial. The teachers should demonstrate the use
of the materials, equipment and the devices to the parents of the children that is available in
the classroom in order to facilitate learning, so that the parents as well as the children acquire
satisfaction (Hallahan, & Kaufman, 1980).

Special Educator – In majority of these cases, the regular classroom teacher and the
parents are required to consult a special educator, who is aware of how to deal with these
children. In addition to the availability of special equipment, materials and methods, the
special educator may provide instructions regarding how to deal with exceptional students in
various kinds of circumstances and situations. For instance, a class assignment has been
given and a student is not willing to perform, then in this case also, there are procedures
regarding how to deal with him in order to make him or her perform the assignment and
efficiently learn the concept.
 Resource Teacher – The resource teacher makes provision of services for the teachers
and students in only one school. The resource teacher assesses the needs and requirements of
the children and their teachers. They identify the areas that need to be worked upon in order
to enhance the growth and development of the children. The main function of the resource
teachers is to improve any kinds of flaws and inconsistencies; they are considered to be
consistent consultants to the regular teachers and advise them on the instructional techniques
and management of the child within the classroom, and sometimes even by demonstrating
instructional techniques.

Diagnostic Prescriptive Centres – In this case, the children are placed for a short
period of time in a special class in a school or in any other facility so that their problems and
requirements can be adequately assessed and plan of action is initiated in accordance to the
diagnostic findings. After an educational prescription is written for the child, the
recommendations may be formulated and would include all the areas from appropriately
placing the child within a classroom setting, taking care of improving his intellectual abilities
and ensuring that he is able to adjust well and does not feel vulnerable (Hallahan, &
Kaufman, 1980).

Home-based Instruction – In an individual’s house, family members are the ones who
play an imperative part in communicating all kinds of information and knowledge to the
children that are required for their development. Cultures, norms, values, ethics, good
manners and principles are taught to the children by their parents. Children with learning
disorders, impairments and disabilities are also communicated cultural traits as well as
academic concepts. When a child is not able to attend educational institutions due to physical
or psychological conditions, then home-based instruction is provided to him. In most cases,
teachers and instructors visit one’s home in order to make provision of training and other
instructional methods to the children.

Exceptional Student Education for Gifted Children

Exceptional students comprises of two categories of students, the students who are
gifted and the students who are experiencing various kinds of disabilities. Children who are
considered gifted, are those children with greater intellectual development and those who are
capable of rendering a high performance. The main purpose of exceptional student education
is to provide assistance to each child with an exceptionality to perform well in school and
also to prepare for a successful living after the completion of education (What is Exceptional
Student Education for Children who are Gifted? 2011). In this kind of education, there are
specially designed services in order to meet the needs and requirements of exceptional
students. The exceptional students who are experiencing various kinds of disabilities, have
special requirements such as making use of devices, equipment and apparatus that would
facilitate their learning.

Exceptional students who possess greater intellectual development, always make their
parents feel honoured and when they depict their skills and talents, they obtain appreciation,
and gratitude. There are examples of various talents and skills which children acquire when
they just reach the age of three years such as playing musical instruments, drawing, artworks,
singing and some children even begin to learn dancing from the age of three, some children
illustrate good acting skills and some depict intellectual knowledge. Therefore, on the basis
of their skills and abilities from the initial stage, they do well in school and when they grow
up, their skills prove to be the major strengths that contribute in the facilitation of their living
conditions. The needs and requirements of the children may undergo transformations,
therefore, it is important that these children should continue to practice their skills.

Conclusion

There are two categories of exceptional students, first is the category of children, who
experience some kinds of disorders, disabilities and impairments. These problems normally
exist with respect to communication, within the area of communication, an individual may
experience several disorders, which may prove to be hindrances within the course of
communication. These are, autism, hearing impairment, language impairment, speech
impairment and learning disability. Other categories are with regards to, behaviour,
intellectual, physical and multiple. The children who are suffering from these problems
require specialized assistive services and devices such as, special attention and care, hearing
aids, visual aids, services of speech therapists, physiotherapists, medical practitioners and so
forth. Besides, these services and aids, the other services that are available are, classroom
instruction, special educator, resource teacher, diagnostic prescriptive centres and home
based instruction.

The study of exceptional children is the study of similarities, exceptional children are
not considered different from the normal children, in each and every manner; for instance,
there are some areas that depict similarities, such as, enjoying playing the same kinds of
games, enjoying watching similar kinds of television shows, having similar liking in case of
food items, clothing and so forth. The teachers in school are required to deal with exceptional
students, taking into account proper care and consideration, but they first tend to identify the
differences between the exceptional and the non-exceptional students; in order to solve the
problems of the exceptional students, it is vital to recognize the areas in which they are
different from the other non-exceptional students. In the present existence, more focus has
been laid upon the identification of the similarities between the exceptional and the non-
exceptional students. There have been similarities in three areas, their characteristics, needs
and ways of learning.

The other category of exceptional students are the students who possess some
exceptional talents and abilities, which is also referred to as child prodigy. The possession of
exceptional talents and abilities always prove to be gratifying and beneficial to the children,
their family members and teachers. It is important for the children to continually practice
their skills, may make use of them in various areas, such as competitions, events and
functions, so that they are able to acquire reward and satisfaction. It can be stated in
conclusion that exceptional categories of students and children should always be supported
and treated with care, courtesy and compassion, so that they are able to adequately cope up
with all their problems and difficulties.
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