NBPTS Exceptional Needs Specialist Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Guide to Master Your Certification!

The condition that indicates a pervasive mood disorder is Emotional Disturbance (ED). This designation encompasses a range of emotional and behavioral issues that can severely affect a child's educational performance and emotional well-being.

Pervasive mood disorders, such as major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder, can lead to significant and chronic feelings of sadness or fluctuations in mood that affect daily functioning. When classified under Emotional Disturbance, these mood disorders demonstrate a consistent pattern of emotional issues that can be observed across multiple settings, including home and school.

In contrast, deafness is a sensory impairment, developmental delay refers to significant lag in developmental milestones, and autism is a developmental disorder characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, and communication. While individuals with these conditions may experience emotional disturbances, they do not inherently indicate a pervasive mood disorder on their own. Emotional Disturbance is specifically focused on those emotional states that disrupt learning and behavior over a prolonged period.