Signs & Symptoms of Emotional Disability

Emotional disability, also referred to as emotional disturbance, is most prevalent in school-age children. It can manifest itself in many ways, all of which are stressful and challenging for both the child and the parent. These emotionally disabled children often exhibit a variety of symptoms that cause school psychologists to misdiagnose them with depression, bipolar disorder, or even some degree of mental retardation. A wrong diagnosis can often lead to a child being placed in inappropriate special education classes, or even being treated with wrong medication.

  1. Problems in School

    • A student with emotional disability will have severe difficulties in school. A typical student will be able to follow a teacher's instructions independently, and will have no problem asking for help if needed. A child with an emotional disability will have difficulty carrying out these same age-appropriate instructions, and may be fearful of asking for help. This can create an inability to learn on the same level as other peers of the same age, which causes the child to view school as a source of misery and confusion. This often leads to poor grades and excessive absences.

    Problems with Others

    • Emotional disability can have detrimental effects on a child's ability to make friends and interact with others. A typical child will be able to approach a group of his peers, converse, and join in their activities. The child with emotional disability will be consistently rejected or ignored by these peers due to a lack of appropriate social skills, and may even be taunted or called names. An emotionally disabled child may be viewed as immature or "weird" by other children of his age group.

    Problems in Behavior

    • An emotionally disabled child will become socially anxious and withdrawn in public. When faced with risks or decisions, however trivial, she will become tense and fearful. She will have extremely poor self-esteem, and may seem have a distorted sense of reality, usually preferring to live in her own fantasy world. These children will often internalize their feelings and emotions, and have difficulty talking about them when asked. Occasionally they may lash out and hurt others out of fear and a desire to be left alone.

    Problems in Development

    • Emotional disability often causes children to regress developmentally. They may behave as though they were much younger, even to the point of seeming overly dependent on others. As these children become older, they may be at risk for substance abuse, although due to their lack of social ability, they may be less likely to use drugs in a group context.

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