NBPTS Exceptional Needs Specialist Practice Exam

Heightened alertness to environmental stimuli is a characteristic of which condition?

1. Intellectual disability

2. Other health impairment

3. Visual impairment

4. Speech or language impairment

The correct answer is: Other health impairment

Heightened alertness to environmental stimuli is primarily associated with the condition categorized as other health impairment. This condition encompasses a variety of medical and psychological issues that can affect a child's ability to learn and adapt in a typical school setting. Healthcare conditions, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or certain anxiety disorders, can lead to increased sensitivity to surroundings. In contrast, intellectual disability typically relates more to cognitive functioning and adaptive behavior rather than sensory processing and awareness of stimuli. Visual impairment focuses on challenges in the visual system, which might alter perception rather than heighten alertness to stimuli. Similarly, speech or language impairment deals primarily with communication, which may not inherently involve heightened sensitivity to environmental factors. Therefore, the association of heightened alertness with other health impairment is well-suited, as it encapsulates the broader impact of health status on a child’s engagement with their environment.