Find out if the student has seen professionals who are qualified to diagnose medical issues, intellectual disorders or sensory problems. If one of these issues exists, then it may not be an emotional disturbance causing the problems at school.
Watch the student and how he interacts with his peers. Not being able to form and keep relationships with peers could point to an emotional disturbance. The student may also display emotions that are inappropriate to the situation, such as laughing when asked a simple question.
Monitor the student's performance. Poor academic performance over a long period of time, such as several months, can signal an emotional disturbance if the student does not have a learning disability.
Look out for signs of depression or anxiety in the student. An emotional disturbance can sometimes be characterized by feelings of depression, sadness, anxiety or becoming overwhelmed with simple tasks.
Pay attention to how the student reacts to situations at school. This includes how he interacts with adults, how he acts in various locations such as the cafeteria or hallway, or how he accomplishes tasks associated with school such as homework or group assignments. Extreme fear or actual physical symptoms could mean that the student has an emotional disturbance. Keep an eye out for any signs of isolation that could indicate fear or any cuts or markings on his body that could indicate physical harm.