Clinical Diagnosis or Special Education Disability | How To Understand the Difference

 

Adam Winger|Unsplash

 

New Diagnosis

Let’s start with a scenario to set the scene…Your child has just been diagnosed with ADHD by a clinical psychologist. You take that information to their school to start the process of setting up special education services and one of two situations will likely unfold: 

  1. Your child will qualify for special education services under the disability category of Other Health Impairment. 

  2. Your child will not qualify for special education services because their ADHD does not “adversely impact their educational progress.” 

 

Ben White \ Unsplash

 

…But Why is the School Calling it Something Else? 

If you are unfamiliar with the special education process, both of these outcomes have the potential to be equally confusing. 

  1. What is “Other Health Impairment”? Why isn’t it called ADHD?

  2. Why are they telling me that my child who has been diagnosed with ADHD will NOT receive services? 

This confusion can be cleared up with a simple yet often overlooked explanation: clinical diagnoses and special education/disability categories are completely different systems. Each system has different labels and definitions for disabilities.  

Defining the Terms

  • Clinical diagnoses are conditions found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), and can only be diagnosed by licensed mental health professionals, such as clinical psychologists or licensed professional counselors. The DSM-5 sets forth symptoms and criteria for diagnosing mental disorders across the lifespan.

  • Special education disability categories are conditions set forth by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which is federal law, and refers to a specific set of 13 disability categories. It is the responsibility of a child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) team to determine whether the child meets criteria for one of these categories. This is often completed with the help of an evaluation designed to determine specifically whether they require special education services. 

 

Sven Brandsma | Unsplash

 

Speaking a Different Language

The labeling differences between each system can often lead to confusion when the clinical and special education worlds collide. Some special education categories use similar language to the DSM-5, such as Autism, Specific Learning Disability, or Intellectual Disability. Other special education categories serve more as “umbrella” categories, such as Other Health Impairment or Emotional Disturbance. These can encompass clinical diagnoses and symptoms such as ADHD, Anxiety, or Depression when appropriate. 

When does a clinical diagnosis overlap with a special education category?

The answer is when symptoms are having an adverse effect on a child’s education. This specific educational requirement is not necessary to obtain a clinical diagnosis. Thus, not all children who have a clinical diagnosis will also have special education disability.

Why get my child evaluated or diagnosed at all?

At this point, you may be wondering what the value in each approach is? There is much to be gained through each process. A clinical diagnosis can pave the way for appropriate therapy recommendations as well as effective and targeted medication management when needed. Evaluations can provide a roadmap to supporting needs in all environments, which often includes the school. A special education disability specifically opens the door to special education services, including specially designed instruction and other related services that meet the unique needs of your child. Despite these differences, both systems are driven by the ultimate goal of getting your child the help they need.

SchoolSuzanne Pickell, Ed.S., ABSNPspecial education, IDEA, diagnosis