What does emotional disturbance as defined by IDEA include?

Emotional disturbance, as defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), specifically refers to conditions that adversely affect a child's educational performance. This definition encompasses a range of emotional and behavioral issues that can significantly hinder a student's ability to learn and participate effectively in a school environment. Examples of such conditions include anxiety disorders, major depression, and other emotional challenges that can impact both social interactions and academic achievement.

In this context, the focus is on how these emotional disturbances can create barriers to learning, not necessarily on the students' academic performance in isolation. While students experiencing emotional disturbances may sometimes underperform academically, the key aspect of the definition is that their emotional condition directly affects their educational experience.

The other options do not align with the IDEA definition of emotional disturbance. For instance, students with high academic potential or those who are academically underperforming do not specifically relate to the emotional conditions outlined in IDEA. Similarly, the inclusion of only physical disabilities is too narrow and does not encompass the range of emotional issues that the category of emotional disturbance is meant to address. Therefore, the correct answer highlights the significance of emotional conditions as factors that can negatively influence educational performance.