So you've gotten the diagnosis...
and you've heard many legal
and health terms used by your doctor
that you are not sure of their meanings. Here we make it easy for you...
Everything
is alphabetized below.
(AAC) AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION:
A COMMUNICATION AID TO ASSIST PEOPLE WITH LIMITED OR NO VERBAL ABILITY. A COMMUNICATION BOARD IS THE MOST COMMONLY USED TOOL.
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(ABA) APPLIED BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS:A THERAPY METHOD THAT USES POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT TO ENCOURAGE
APPROPRIATE BEHAVIORS THAT WILL HELP AN INDIVIDUAL WITH AUTISM FUNCTION IN SOCIETY. ALSO CALLED THE LOVAAS METHOD, AFTER DR.
LOVAAS.
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(ADD) ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER: A DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER THAT IS CHARACTERIZED BY
SHORT ATTENTION SPANS AND A LACK OF CONCENTRATION ON TASKS.
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(ADHD) ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER: A DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER THAT IS
COMPOSED OF (ADD) AND HYPERACTIVITY WITHIN THE SAME INDIVIDUAL.
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(ADL) ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING: ACTIVITIES THAT EACH PERSON ENGAGES IN DAILY FOR PERSONAL
CARE AND HYGIENE. DRESSING AND BATHING ARE EXAMPLES.
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(AEA) AREA EDUCATION
AGENCY: PROVIDES SUPPORT SERVICES (ED CONSULTATION, PSYCH, SOCIAL WORK, NURSING, SPEECH AND LANGUAGE, ETC.)
TO LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES.
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(APD) AUDITORY PROCESSING
DISORDER: A DISORDER IN WHICH LANGUAGE IS HEARD CORRECTLY BUT NOT UNDERSTOOD OF NOT PROCESSED CORRECTLY
BY THE BRAIN.
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(AS) ASPERGER'S SYNDROME:
A DISORDER ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM CHARACTERISED BY NORMAL SPEECH AND SOCIAL DIFFICULTIES. DIAGNOSIS MAY NOT OCCUR UNTIL THE
CHILD IS OLDER.
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(ASA) AUTISM SOCIETY
OF AMERICA: ONE OF THE LEADING AUTISM ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES.
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(ASD) AUTISM SPECTRUM
DISORDERS: A COLLECTION OF DISORDERS CHARACTERIZED BY SYMPTOMS SUCH AS IMPAIRED VERBAL ABILITY AND SOCIAL
DYSFUNCTION.
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(ASL) AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE:
THE PRIMARY SIGN LANGUAGE USED IN THE UNITED STATES. IT WAS DEVELOPED FOR PEOPLE WITH DEAFNESS AND IS OFTEN CONCEPTUALLY
BASED.
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ASPIE:A
PERSON WITH ASPERGER'S SYNDROME.
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AUTIE:
A PERSON WITH AUTISM.
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AUTISM:
A NEUROLOGICAL DISORDER CHARACTERIZED BY COMMUNICATION DIFFICULTIES (EXPRESSIVE AND RECEPTIVE), SENSORY PROBLEMS, AND SOCIALIZATION
ISSUES. USUALLY APPEARS BETWEEN 16 MONTHS AND 2 YEARS OF AGE.
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BENEFICIARY:
THE RECIPIENT OF A TRUST FUND, LIFE INSURANCE POLICY, OF OTHER ASSETS AND FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED TO GO TO THAT
PERSON.
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BOARDMAKER:
A DEVICE THAT RESEMBLES A NOTEBOOK OR BOARD GAME CREATED TO HELP NONVERBAL PEOPLE COMMUNICATE.
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(CAPD) CENTRAL AUDITORY
PROCESSING DISORDER: A DISORDER THAT INTERFERES WITH THE COMBINATION OF ABILITIES THAT ENABLES A PERSON TO
OBTAIN MEANING FROM LANGUAGE.
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(DSM-IV) DIAGNOSTIC AND
STATISTICAL MANUAL OF MENTAL DISORDERS, 4TH EDITION: A PUBLICATION USED TO DIAGNOSE AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS.
THE FOURTH EDITION IS THE MOST CURRENT VERSION OF THIS PUBLICATION.
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ECHOLALIA:
THE VERBAL REPETITION OF WORDS WITHOUT USING THOSE WORDS FOR ANY COMMUNICATION OR MEANING.
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ELOPEMENT:
THE TENDENCY OF A CHILD WITH AUTISM TO "ESCAPE" HIS OR HER ENVIRONMENT AND WANDER OFF, USUALLY WITH NO PARTICULAR
DIRECTION IN MIND.
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ENCOPRESIS:
A BOWEL DISORDER WHERE VERY HARD STOOL FORMS IN THE RECTUM AND LIQUID STOOL LEAKS OUT FROM ABOVE. CAUSED BOWEL LEAKAGE. MANY
CHILDREN ENCOUNTER SOME FORM OF BOWEL ISSUES.
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EXACT SIGN LANGUAGE:
A FORM OF SIGN LANGUAGE (USING MUCH OF AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE) THAT HAD A SIGN FOR EACH WORD. ALSO KNOWN AS "EXACT ENGLISH"
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EXPRESSIVE SPEECH:
THE ABILITY YO UTILIZE SPOKEN LANGUAGE TO CONVEY IDEAS, THOUGHTS, AND FEELINGS.
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FACILITATED COMMUNICATION: A CONTROVERSIAL METHOD OF COMMUNICATION THAT USES THE AID OF ANOTHER
PERSON FOR PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT.
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(FAPE) FREE
APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION: PROGRAMS FOR EDUCATION THAT ARE INDIVIDUALIZED, MEETING A STUDENT'S NEEDS
AND PROVIDING AN EDUCATION THAT PROGRESSES AND IS SATISFACTORY.
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FLAPPING:
THE MOVEMENT THAT CAN OCCUR OF THE HAND AND FOREARM BY A CHILD OR ADULT WITH AUTISM THAT MIMICS A WAVE BUT OCCURS DUE TO OVER
STIMULATION, EITHER PHYSICALLY OR EMOTIONALLY.
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(GFCF) GLUTEN-FREE,
CASEIN-FREE DIET: A DIET USED BY MANY PARENTS OF CHILDREN ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM. THE DIET EXCLUDES ALL GLUTEN
AND CASEIN PRODUCTS.
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(HFA) HIGH-FUNCTIONING AUTISM: A FORM OF AUTISM THAT IS MUCH
LESS DISABLING AS AN INDIVIDUAL HAS VERBAL ABILITY AND VARYING DEGREES OF SOCIAL UNDERSTANDING. IQ WILL BE MEASURED AT SEVENTY
OR ABOVE.
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(IDEA) INDIVIDUALS WITH
DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT:A UNITED STATES CONGRESSIONAL ACT THAT DICTATES ALL THE RIGHTS CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
HAVE IN ORDER TO RECEIVE FULL EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
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(IEP) INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLAN: AND OFFICIAL PLAN, WRITTEN
ON A YEARLY BASIS, THAT IS DEVELOPED AT A MEETING WITH PARENTS, TEACHERS, THERAPISTS, AND OTHER EXPERTS INVOLVED IN A DISABLED
CHILD'S EDUCATION.
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IMAGINATIVE PLAY: THE ABILITY TO PLAY WITH OBJECTS USING IMAGINATION.
FOR EXAMPLE, TOY CARS, PEOPLE, HOUSES CAN BE A TOWN IN WHICH AN ENTIRE SCENARIO IS PLAYED OUT.
INCLUSIVE: A TERM USED INTERCHANGEABLY WITH MAINSTREAMING. REFERS TO A CHILD WITH A DISABILITY HAVING ACCESS
TO THE SAME CLASSROOM AS IS HE OR SHE WERE NOT DISABLED.
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(INLV) INDEPENDENT LIVING (SUPPPORT GROUP); AN ABBREVIATION
USED TO INDICATE A PERSON WITH AUTISM IS FUNCTIONING AT A HIGH ENOUGH LEVEL TO LIVE ALONE WITH MINIMAL SUPERVISION, SUCH
AS A SOCIAL WORKING CHECKING DAILY.
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(IQ) INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENT:
THE NUMBER THAT IS CONSIDERED A STANDARD FOR MEASURING A PERSON'S INTELLIGENCE AND CAPACITY FOR UNDERSTANDING.
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(LCSW) LICENSED CLINICAL
SOCIAL WORKER: A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL LICENSED BY EACH STATE TO HELP INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES.
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(LFA) LOW FUNCTION AUTISM: A MORE SEVERE FORM OF AUTISM WITH
IQ MEASURING AT BELOW SEVENTY.
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(LRE)
LEAST RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT: AN EDUCATIONAL TERM THAT REFERS TO THE CLASSROOM OR ENVIRONMENT A STUDENT ATTENDS DAILY THAT
PROVIDES THE LEAST AMOUNT OF RESTRICTION TO ENSURE SAFETY AND THE MOST OF SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL INTERACTION.
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(MDT) MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM:TEACHER,
SLP (SPEECH/LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST), OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST,PSYCHOLOGIST, AND PARENTS! USED IN REFERENCE TO THE GROUP OF INDIVIDUAL'S
WHO ARE PART OF DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN IEP.
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MELTDOWN: THE TOTAL LOSS OF BEHAVIORAL
CONTROL BY A PERSON WITH AUTISM.
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(MR) MENTAL RETARDATION: MENTALLY
RETARDED (IQ LESS THAN SEVENTY).
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(NCLB) NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND:AN
EDUCATION REFORM ACT DESIGNED TO IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. ALL STATES, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND SCHOOLS THAT ACCEPT TITLE
1 FEDERAL GRANTS ARE SUBJECT TO NCLB POLICY.
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(NIDS) NEURO-IMMUNE DYSFUNCTION SYNDROME:THE
LIKELY CONNECTION BETWEEN NEURP-IMMUNE AND/OR AUTOIMMUNE DYSFUNCTION AND CONDITIONS SUCH AS AUTISM, ADD, ALZHEIMER'S,
ALS, CFS/CFIDS, MS, AND OTHER IMMUNE-MEDICATED DISEASES.
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(NOD) NOT OTHERWISE DEFINED:OFTEN
APPEARS WITH A DIAGNOSIS BY A PSYCHOLOGIST. THIS IS A TERM THAT IS USED WHEN A DISORDER IS PRESENT BUT IT DOES NOT FALL INTO
A SPECIFIC DEFINITION WITHIN THE DIAGNOSTIC MANUAL'S.
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(NOS) NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIED: USED
AS A FOOTNOTE ONA DIAGNOSIS WHEN THE DISORDER IS VAGUE IN MANY WAYS (USUALLY SEEN AS A PDD-NOS). IT IS CONSIDERED A "CATCH-ALL"
DIAGNOSIS AND IS OFTEN NOT ACCEPTED AS A VALID DIAGNOSIS BY INSURANCE COMPANIES.
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(NT) NEURO-TYPICAL: A TERM USEED
FOR CHILDREN WITHOUT AUTISM WHO ARE "NORMAL" BY DEFINITION OF SOCIETY.
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(OCD) OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER:
THIS IS A DISORDER IN WHICH A PERSON IS OBSESSED WITH UNWANTED THOUGHTS AND FEELS THE NEED TO ACT OUT COMPULSIVE BEHAVIORS.
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(OT) OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST OR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY:
A THERAPIST THAT WORKS WITH IMPROVING FINE MOTOR SKILLS AS WELL AS DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS FOR PRACTICAL DAY-TO-DAY LIVING DEFICITS
ARE ACCOMMODATED.
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PARALLEL PLAY: PLAYING BESIDE
ANOTHER CHILD, BUT PLAYING INDEPENDENTLY AND NOT INTERACTING WITH THAT CHILD.
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(PECS/PCS) PICTURE EXCHANGE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM:
A COMMUNICATION TOOL THAT USES PHOTOGRAPHS AND/OR DRAWINGS TO REPLACE WORDS FOR LANGUAGE.
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PRADER-WILLI SYNDROME:A DISORDER
ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM. PWS IS A COMPLEX GENETIC DISORDER THAT TYPICALLY CAUSES LOW MUSCLE TONE, SHORT STATURE, INCOMPLETE
SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT, COGNITIVE DISABILITIES, PROBLEM BEHAVIORS, AND A CHRONIC FEELING OF HUNGER THAT CAN LEAD TO EXCESSIVE
EATING AND LIFE-THREATENING OBESITY.
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(PT) PHYSICAL THERAPIST OR PHYSICAL THERAPY:
A THERAPIST OR THERAPY THAT WORKS TO INCREASE THE FUNCTIONALITY OF GROSS MOTOR SKILLS.
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RECEPTIVE SPEECH: HEARING SPOKEN
LANGUAGE FROM ANOTHER PERSON AND DECIPHERING IT INTO A MEANINGFUL MENTAL PICTURE OR THOUGHT PATTERN, WHICH IS UNDERSTOOD AND
THEN USED BY THE RECIPIENT.
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(RS) RETT SYNDROME:A DISORDER
ON THE SPECTRUM. RETT SYNDROME IS A GENETIC NEUROLOGICAL DISORDER SEEN IN ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY IN FEMALES AND FOUND IN A VARIETY
OF RACIAL AND ETHNIC GROUPS WORLDWIDE. IT IS CHARACTERIZED BY APPARENTLY NORMAL OR NEAR NORMAL DEVELOPMENT UNTIL SIX TO EIGHTEEN
MONTHS OF LIFE. A PERIOD OF TEMPORARY STAGNATION OR REGRESSION FOLLOWS, DURING WHICH THE CHILD LOSES COMMUNICATION SKILLS
AND PURPOSEFUL USE OF HANDS.
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SAVANT: A PERSON WITH AUTISM WHO
HAS A BRILLIANT INTELLIGENCE. APPEARS IN APPROXIMATELY 10 PERCENT OF PEOPLE WITH AUTISM.
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SELF-CONTAINED: IN REFERENCE TO
SPECIAL EDUCATION, IT REFERS TO SCHOOLS OR CLASSROOMS CONTAINING ONLY A SPECIAL-NEEDS POPULATION.
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SENSORY OVERLOAD: THE REACTION
A CHILD WITH AUTISM HAS WHEN MORE SENSES ARE BEING STIMULATED THAN HE OR SHE HAS THE ABILITY TO PROCESS.
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SERVICE ANIMAL: AN ANIMAL THAT
IS TRAINED TO WORK WITH AND MEET THE NEEDS OF A DISABLED PERSON.
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SPLINTER SKILL:THIS IS A HIGHLY
REFINED SKILL ACCOMPLISHED BY A CHILD OR ADULT WITH AUTISM. OTHER SKILLS MAY BE BELOW TYPICAL AGE LEVEL BUT ONE OR TWO SKILLS,
SUCH AS MUSIC OR COMPUTER PROGRAMMING, MAY BE FAR ABOVE AVERAGE.
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(SSRI) SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITOR:A
MEDICATION USED FOR DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, AND THE CONTROL OF OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE BEHAVIORS, INCLUDING PROZAC, ZOLOFT,PAXIL,
AND LUVOX.
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STUFFING:A CHARACTERISTIC OF AUTISM
WHERE THE CHILD OVERFILLS HIS MOUTH WITH FOOD. THE BIGGEST HAZARD ASSOCIATED WITH STUFFING IS THE RISK OF CHOKING.
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(TEACCH) TREATMENT AND EDUCATION OF AUTISTIC AND
RELATED COMMUNICATION HANDICAPPED CHILDREN:A METHOD OF TEACHING CHILDREN WITH COMMUNICATION DEFICITS THAT
ENCOURAGES COMMUNICATION WITH PICTURE BOARDS OR OTHER ASSISTIVE DEVICES.
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THEORY OF MIND: A HUMAN CHARACTERISTIC
THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT EACH PERSON HAS A MIND AND ONE INDIVIDUAL MAY NOT BE AWARE OF THE OTHER PERSON'S THOUGHTS. COMMUNICATION
BRIDGES THAT GAP.
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THERAPY ANIMAL:AN ANIMAL THAT
IS USED TO CALM PEOPLE WHO ARE EITHER ILL OR DISABLED. THE ANIMAL'S JOB IS TO DELIVER UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.
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TIC:A BRIEF, REPETITIVE, PURPOSELESS,
NONRHYTHMIC, INVOLUNTARY MOVEMENT OR SOUND. TICS THAT PRODUCE MOVEMENT ARE CALLED "MOTOR TICS" WHILE TICS THAT THAT
PRODUCE SOUND ARE CALLED "VOCAL TICS" OR "PHONIC TICS." TICS TEND TO OCCUR IN BURSTS OR "BOUTS."
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(TS) TOURETTE'S SYNDROME:ALSO
KNOWN AS TOURETTE SYNDROME OR TOURETTE'S DISORDER, THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON CHILDHOOD-ONSET CONDITION THAT MAY BE ASSOCIATED
WITH FEATURES OF MANY OTHER CONDITIONS. THIS SYNDROME IS CHARACTERIZED BY "TICS."
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WILLIAMS SYNDROME:A DISORDER ON
THE AUTISM SPECTRUM. WILLIAMS SYNDROME IS TYPICALLY CHARACTERIZED BY ELFIN FACE, DENTAL PROBLEMS, CHARACTERISTIC STENOTIC
CARDIOVASCULAR PROBLEMS (NARROWING OF THE BLOOD VESSELS) AND HYPERCALCEMIA (EXCESSIVE CALCIUM IN THE BLOOD.) PEOPLE AFFLICTED
WITH WILLIAMS SYNDROME ALSO HAVE A CHARACTERISTIC TENDENCY TO APPROACH STRANGERS INDISCRIMINATELY.
