Glossary

There are 358 entries in this glossary.
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Term Definition
Abdominal bloating

swollen stomach, also know as distention

Abnormally formed bones in the leg or foot

bones in the legs and feet that are not formed properly which is something that would be found during a medical exam and/or show up on xrays

Abnormally formed hip bones/joints

hip bones and joints that are not formed properly which is something that would be found during a medical exam and/or show up on xrays

Absence seizures

stopping activity and staring into space for a few seconds

Absent or weak DTR

lack of normal reflexes when a doctor taps each joint with a "reflex hammer." DTR stands for "deep tendon reflex."

Accupunture

having fine needles inserted into various points on the body to relieve pain or for therapeutic purposes

Adenoidectomy

surgery that removes the adenoids in an attempt to reduce frequent sinus and ear infections

ADHD

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood disorders and can continue through adolescence and adulthood. Symptoms include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, easily distracted, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity (over-activity). Attention deficit disorder (ADD) can occur without the hyperactivity.

Allergic rhinitis (hay fever)

watery eyes and sinus infections (stuffy nose) caused by allergic reactions

Angelman Syndrome

genetic disorder causing severe delays in understanding and speech, seizures and problems with balance, along with frequent smiling and laughing.

Antibody titers to vaccination

laboratory test that measures the presence and amount of antibodies in blood. When a vaccine works, the body produces antibodies.

Anxiety disorder

excessive anxiety and worry about a number of events or activities.

Aortic stenosis

abnormal narrowing of the aortic heart valve opening.

Apnea (obstructive, not neurologic)

temporary interruption of breathing due to obstruction of the upper airway, often associated with a reduction in blood oxygen saturation.

Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)

evidence-based modality for teaching children with disabilities. It is the only treatment for Autistic Spectrum disorders approved by the American FDA (Food and Drug Administration).

Apraxia of speech (verbal apraxia)

speech disorder in which a person has trouble saying what he or she wants to say correctly and consistently.

Arachnoid Cyst

fluid-filled cyst in the brain

Arrythmia

abnormal rhythm of the heart, which could be an abnormality of rate, regularity, presence of extra beats or missing beats

Articulation disorder

inability to correctly produce speech sounds usually characterized by substitutions, omissions, additions, or distortions that may interfere with intelligibility.

Articulation therapy

speech therapy that focus on the motor aspects of speech production.

Ascites

accumulation of fluid in the abdomen, resulting in a swollen, uncomfortable condition

Asthma

respiratory disorder, often of allergic origin, characterized by difficulty breathing, wheezing, and a sense of constriction in the chest.

Astigmatism

condition in which the curvature of the cornea of the eye is uneven, causing a blurring of vision. Astigmatism is normally corrected by glasses.

Atonic seizures

minor seizure characterized by a brief lapse in muscle tone caused by a temporary alterations in brain function. The seizures are brief - usually less than 15 seconds. They begin in childhood and may persist into adulthood.The seizure itself causes no damage, but the loss of muscle control can result in injury.

Atopic dermatitis (eczema)

chronic skin condition especially of children marked especially by intense itching.

Atypical absence seizures

common chronic neurological disorder that is characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures. These seizures are transient signs and/or symptoms due to abnormal, excessive neuronal activity in the brain.

Auditory processing disorder

disorder in the way auditory information is processed in the brain. It is not a hearing impairment; individuals with APD usually have normal hearing ability.

Augmentative communication device

Any device that facilitates communication by those with limited or absent speech (e.g., Communication boards; pictographs–symbols that look like the things they represent; ideographs–symbols representing ideas).

Augmentative communication system

The representation system or symbols used in Augmentative and Alternative Communication include gestures, hand signals, photographs, pictures, line drawings, words and letters, which can be used alone or in combination to communicate.

Autistic enterocolitis

controversial term first used by [1] British gastroenterologist Andrew Wakefield to describe a number of common clinical symptoms and signs which he contends are distinctive to autism.

Autoimmune Liver Failure

disease of the liver that occurs when a person's immune system attacks her or his own liver cells.