Chapter 8

Learners with Emotional or Behavioral Disorders

Topics

Terminology Terminology DefinitionDefinition ClassificationClassification PrevalencePrevalence CausesCauses IdentificationIdentification Psychological and Behavioral Psychological and Behavioral

CharacteristicsCharacteristics Educational ConsiderationsEducational Considerations Early InterventionEarly Intervention Transition to AdulthoodTransition to Adulthood

Terminology

Emotionally DisturbedEmotionally Disturbed — used in current federal — used in current federal laws and regulations; “ED”laws and regulations; “ED”

Behaviorally DisorderedBehaviorally Disordered — used by many — used by many professionals and Council for Exceptional Children professionals and Council for Exceptional Children (CEC); “BD”(CEC); “BD”

Emotional or Behavior DisorderedEmotional or Behavior Disordered — introduced — introduced in 1990 by National Mental Health and Special in 1990 by National Mental Health and Special Educational Coalition; gaining in use and Educational Coalition; gaining in use and acceptanceacceptance

DefinitionDefinitional problems:Definitional problems: Lack of precise definitions of mental health and Lack of precise definitions of mental health and

normal behaviornormal behavior

Differences among conceptual modelsDifferences among conceptual models

Difficulties in measuring emotion and Difficulties in measuring emotion and behaviorbehavior

Relationships between emotional or Relationships between emotional or behavioral disorder and other disabilitiesbehavioral disorder and other disabilities

Differences in the professionals who Differences in the professionals who diagnose and serve children and youthsdiagnose and serve children and youths

Definition

Current definitions:Current definitions: Behavior is extremeBehavior is extreme Behavior Behavior unacceptable because of social or cultural unacceptable because of social or cultural

expectationsexpectations Problem is chronicProblem is chronic

Federal definition:Federal definition: ExcludesExcludes social maladjustment social maladjustment which some states interpret which some states interpret

as as

conduct disorderconduct disorder

National Mental Health and Special Education definition:National Mental Health and Special Education definition: Acknowledges multiple disabilitiesAcknowledges multiple disabilities Does not have arbitrary exclusionsDoes not have arbitrary exclusions

Classification

No universally accepted No universally accepted classification systemclassification system

Individualized assessmentIndividualized assessment

Two broad dimensions of behaviorTwo broad dimensions of behavior ExternalizingExternalizing InternalizingInternalizing Co-morbidity is commonCo-morbidity is common

Schizophrenia is distinguished from Schizophrenia is distinguished from autism or autistic spectrum disorderautism or autistic spectrum disorder

Prevalence & CausesPrevalence:Prevalence: Estimates of 6 to 10 percent of school-age Estimates of 6 to 10 percent of school-age

population; boys 5:1population; boys 5:1 About 1 percent identified and receiving About 1 percent identified and receiving

special education services; most exhibit special education services; most exhibit externalizing behaviorexternalizing behavior

Causes:Causes: Biological disorders and diseasesBiological disorders and diseases

Medical treatment is seldom sufficientMedical treatment is seldom sufficient Pathological family relationshipsPathological family relationships

Importance of positive approaches to Importance of positive approaches to behavior managementbehavior management

Undesirable experiences at schoolUndesirable experiences at school Spiral of negative interactionsSpiral of negative interactions

Negative cultural influences (i.e. increase Negative cultural influences (i.e. increase in poverty)in poverty)

Identification Often easily identified.Often easily identified.

Difficult to identify ifDifficult to identify if Child is young; difficult to determine severity of Child is young; difficult to determine severity of

problem.problem. There is an error in teacher judgment.There is an error in teacher judgment. The child does not exhibit problems at schools.The child does not exhibit problems at schools.

Importance of teacher’s informal judgmentsImportance of teacher’s informal judgments

Systematic screening procedures neededSystematic screening procedures needed

Psychological and Behavioral Characteristics

Intelligence and achievementIntelligence and achievement Typically, below average IQ (less Typically, below average IQ (less

than 90)than 90)

Social and emotional characteristics:Social and emotional characteristics: Aggressive, acting-out behavior Aggressive, acting-out behavior

(externalizing)(externalizing) Immature, withdrawn behavior Immature, withdrawn behavior

(internalizing)(internalizing)

Educational Considerations

Two objectives:Two objectives: Controlling misbehaviorControlling misbehavior Teaching academic and social skillsTeaching academic and social skills

Balancing behavioral control with academic and social Balancing behavioral control with academic and social learninglearning

Importance of integrated servicesImportance of integrated services Service deliveryService delivery

Trend toward inclusionTrend toward inclusion Different needs, different placementsDifferent needs, different placements

Instructional considerationsInstructional considerations Need for social skillsNeed for social skills Needs of juvenile delinquentsNeeds of juvenile delinquents Special challenges for teachersSpecial challenges for teachers

Special disciplinary considerationsSpecial disciplinary considerations Functional behavioral assessment and positive behavioral Functional behavioral assessment and positive behavioral

supportssupports

Strategies That Work

Systematic, data-based interventionsSystematic, data-based interventions

Continuous assessment and progress monitoringContinuous assessment and progress monitoring

Provision for practice of new skillsProvision for practice of new skills

Treatment matched to the problem; multicomponent treatmentTreatment matched to the problem; multicomponent treatment

Programming for transfer and maintenanceProgramming for transfer and maintenance

Commitment to sustained interventionCommitment to sustained intervention

Early Intervention

Early InterventionEarly Intervention::

Identification is complicatedIdentification is complicated Tasks are simpler, so range of Tasks are simpler, so range of

behaviors used for comparisons is behaviors used for comparisons is

restricted; development is rapid and restricted; development is rapid and

unevenuneven Wide variation in child-rearing Wide variation in child-rearing

practicespractices Hard to distinguish between EBD and Hard to distinguish between EBD and

other conditions in preschoolother conditions in preschool Prevention problems; programs are costlyPrevention problems; programs are costly Need people trained in behavior managementNeed people trained in behavior management

Transition to Adulthood

Transition to Adulthood:Transition to Adulthood:

Programs range from regular public high Programs range from regular public high school classes to private residential school classes to private residential schoolsschools

High drop-out rateHigh drop-out rate

Incarcerated youth neglectedIncarcerated youth neglected

Employment difficulty due to social skillsEmployment difficulty due to social skills

May require intervention throughout lifeMay require intervention throughout life

True or False?

Although it is difficult to identify the types and Although it is difficult to identify the types and causes of problems, most children and youths causes of problems, most children and youths

with emotional or behavioral disorders, whether with emotional or behavioral disorders, whether aggressive or withdrawn, are quite easy to spot.aggressive or withdrawn, are quite easy to spot.

True!

True or False?

Students with emotional or behavioral Students with emotional or behavioral disorders are usually very bright.disorders are usually very bright.

False!

Relatively few students with emotional Relatively few students with emotional or behavioral disorders have high or behavioral disorders have high

intelligence; in fact, most have below intelligence; in fact, most have below average IQs.average IQs.

True or False?

Youngsters with aggressive, acting-out Youngsters with aggressive, acting-out behavior patterns have less chance for behavior patterns have less chance for social adjustment and mental health in social adjustment and mental health in

adulthood. adulthood.

True!

True or False?

Research shows that a firmly structured Research shows that a firmly structured and highly predictable environment is of and highly predictable environment is of

greatest benefit for most students.greatest benefit for most students.

True!

True or False?

Only psychiatrists, psychologists and Only psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers are able to help children and social workers are able to help children and

youths with emotional and behavioral youths with emotional and behavioral disorders overcome their problems.disorders overcome their problems.

False!

Most teachers and parents can learn to Most teachers and parents can learn to be highly effective in helping be highly effective in helping

youngsters with emotional or behavioral youngsters with emotional or behavioral disorders, sometimes without extensive disorders, sometimes without extensive

training or professional certification. training or professional certification. Many of these children and youths do Many of these children and youths do

require services of highly trained require services of highly trained professionals as well.professionals as well.

True or False?

Undesirable behaviors are only Undesirable behaviors are only symptoms; the real problems are hidden symptoms; the real problems are hidden

deep in the individual’s psyche.deep in the individual’s psyche.

False!

There is no sound scientific basis for There is no sound scientific basis for belief in hidden causes; the behavior belief in hidden causes; the behavior

and its social context are the problems. and its social context are the problems. Causes may involve thoughts, feelings Causes may involve thoughts, feelings

and perceptions.and perceptions.

True or False?

Harsh punishment, including imprisonment, not Harsh punishment, including imprisonment, not only does not deter misbehavior, but also only does not deter misbehavior, but also

creates conditions under which many individuals creates conditions under which many individuals become even more likely to exhibit unacceptable become even more likely to exhibit unacceptable

behavior.behavior.

True!