TExES 161 Disability Categories and Characteristics 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which characteristic is most commonly associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?
- Persistent deficits in social communication and interaction (Correct answer)
- Significant limitations in intellectual functioning
- Chronic health conditions limiting alertness
- Impaired hearing or vision
Correct answer: Persistent deficits in social communication and interaction
ASD is primarily characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction, along with restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.
Question 2: What distinguishes a speech impairment from a language impairment in special education?
- Speech impairments affect the mechanics of sound production; language impairments affect understanding or use of language (Correct answer)
- Speech impairments are more severe than language impairments
- Language impairments only occur in bilingual students
- Speech impairments are temporary while language impairments are permanent
Correct answer: Speech impairments affect the mechanics of sound production; language impairments affect understanding or use of language
Speech impairments affect the physical production of sounds (articulation, fluency, voice), while language impairments affect the ability to understand or use language effectively.
Question 3: A student who has an injury to the brain caused by an external physical force resulting in changed school performance most likely qualifies under which IDEA category?
- Other Health Impairment
- Emotional Disturbance
- Traumatic Brain Injury (Correct answer)
- Multiple Disabilities
Correct answer: Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is the IDEA category for students whose brain injury was caused by an external physical force and negatively affects educational performance.
Question 4: Under IDEA, which disability category applies only to children ages 3 through 9 (at state discretion) who are experiencing delays but have not yet been given a specific disability label?
- Intellectual Disability
- Developmental Delay (Correct answer)
- Other Health Impairment
- Multiple Disabilities
Correct answer: Developmental Delay
Developmental Delay is a category states may use for young children (ages 3–9) experiencing delays in development who have not yet received a specific disability diagnosis.
Question 5: Which characteristic best describes students with orthopedic impairments under IDEA?
- Deficits in social and communication skills
- Severe orthopedic impairment affecting educational performance, such as cerebral palsy or limb deficiency (Correct answer)
- Chronic health conditions causing limited alertness
- Significant deficits in intellectual and adaptive functioning
Correct answer: Severe orthopedic impairment affecting educational performance, such as cerebral palsy or limb deficiency
Orthopedic Impairment under IDEA refers to severe motor impairments (e.g., cerebral palsy, limb deficiency) that adversely affect educational performance.
Question 6: A student who has both a visual impairment and a hearing impairment is classified under which IDEA disability category?
- Multiple Disabilities
- Deaf-Blindness (Correct answer)
- Visual Impairment Including Blindness
- Other Health Impairment
Correct answer: Deaf-Blindness
Deaf-Blindness is its own IDEA category for students who have combined hearing and visual impairments that cause severe communication and educational needs.
TExES 161 Disability Categories and Characteristics 2
Which characteristic is most commonly associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?