All parents want their children to succeed at school. But many things can keep even the brightest children from getting the grades that their parents think they should. Emotional challenges are one such issue. 

Parents are sometimes afraid to address emotional dysregulation because they fear that their child is somehow “bad” or “abnormal” or that they are a bad parent. Neither is true. High emotions are just part of being human. Research shows that emotional issues are quite common in childhood. 

This article discusses some common emotional issues experienced by children and teens and how they can affect academic performance. It also discusses how a therapeutic school in New York City can help parents monitor and treat emotional issues. 

What Is an “Emotional Disability”?

The definition of emotional disability comes from the  Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”).  Under IDEA regulations, an emotional disorder (also called an emotional disturbance) occurs when one of five factors is present for so long and to such a degree that it negatively affects the child’s education. The five factors are: 

• “An inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors.” This means that the child’s poor performance is related to emotions rather than medical or intellectual issues.

• “An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers.” The child struggles in social situations even when adults provide proper support. 

• “Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances.” The student has strong emotional reactions to low-stakes requests, such as lashing out when being asked to raise their hand before speaking. 

• “A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression.” The child is persistently sad, which may be shown by lack of motivation, low interest in formerly loved activities, or negative self-talk. 

• “A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems.” The child’s feelings show up physically in the form of headaches, stomachaches, and other bodily ailments. They may even use these ailments as a reason to avoid school. 

How Common Are Emotional Issues in Childhood? 

Many parents believe that they are the only ones dealing with a child’s emotional or behavioral issues, but this is not true. Children are figuring out the world. Learning to manage their emotions is simply a part of that process. 

Experts believe that one in five children aged 3-17 is dealing with an emotional impairment. Also, research shows that roughly 33 percent of children experience at least one traumatic event before age 18. Many emotional issues are rooted in trauma, so the high rate of trauma leads to a higher potential for emotional issues. 

Which Diagnoses Fit Under the “Emotional Disability” Label?

The IDEA regulations state that serious issues like schizophrenia qualifies as an emotional disability, yet it can also encompass other concerns. While they don’t name any other specific conditions, a wide variety of disorders can meet the IDEA criteria under the right circumstances, including: 

• Anxiety 
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) 
• Conduct Disorder 
• Depression
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) 

Remember, simply having the diagnosis is not enough. It must be persistent, and it must meet one of the five IDEA criteria. But if your child’s diagnosis doesn’t quite meet the IDEA requirements for an emotional or behavioral disorder, don’t despair. You may be able to use another part of the IDEA, such as other health impairment, to get assistance for your child.

A final note: It is common for children with emotional and behavioral challenges to have multiple issues. (Doctors and psychologists call these “comorbidities.”) For example, research shows that children with ADHD are far more likely to have either anxiety or depression than children without it. Parents should be aware that children may be struggling with multiple issues at the same time so all issues can be fully addressed. 

How Emotional Disabilities Can Affect Your Child’s School Performance

Children learn best when they can focus in the classroom. However, children with emotional challenges can’t devote their full energy to academics because their brains are focused on managing emotional issues. This pulled focus can lead to many negative educational outcomes, including: 

• Lower grades
• Lower scores on standardized tests
• Suspension
• Expulsion
• Lower chance of graduation 

Additionally, experts now believe that academic struggles can follow children into adulthood, affecting their employability, earnings, and even their health. So, it is important for parents to act quickly when children show signs that their emotional distress is impacting them in the classroom. 

How Therapeutic Schools Can Help Students with Emotional Needs 

Traditional public, private, and charter schools aren’t designed to provide the support that children with emotional issues need and deserve. Here are some of the ways that a therapeutic school’s approach can benefit your child. 

• Social-emotional learning. While New York asks all schools to incorporate social-emotional learning (SEL) into the school day, most traditional schools struggle to fit this time in around testing, academic lessons, and other requirements. However, traditional schools incorporate SEL into every part of the curriculum so students get the full benefit of these lessons every day. 

• Mental health supports. Traditional schools have counselors, but due to their large caseloads, most aren’t able to provide intensive support to individual students on a daily (or even weekly) basis. But at therapeutic schools, therapy is part of the school day. Therapy providers and academic staff collaborate on lesson plans and goals for each student. The smaller class sizes at therapeutic schools allow therapists to hold regular individual and group counseling.  

• Discipline. Discipline is a crucial issue for students with emotional and behavioral issues. In a traditional school, the disciplinary rules usually don’t take a student’s special issues into account. Therapeutic schools train teachers to de-escalate troubling behaviors and also teach students to self-regulate. If issues remain, therapeutic schools focus on restorative practices rather than harsh punishments. 

• Targeted supports. Because of their smaller class sizes, therapeutic schools can customize their approach to each child. This makes it easier for these schools to support a child’s 504 or IEP. 

A Therapeutic School Can Help With Your Child’s Emotional Disorder  

If your child’s emotional issues are affecting their schoolwork, remember, you’re not alone. In the right setting, your child can thrive. A therapeutic school might be the right choice for your child and your family. If you are looking for a therapeutic school in New York City, consider Academics West. We’re a high-support school that combines therapeutic and academic excellence. Take our virtual tour. Then use our scheduling tool or call 212-580-0080 to visit us in person on the Upper West Side.