Glossary of Terms - A to D
Aetiology
Study of the causes or origins of a disease or disorder.
Affective disorders
Disorders in which the fundamental disturbance is a change in affect or mood to depression (with or without associated anxiety) or to elation.
Angelman syndrome
Chromosomal disorder characterised by microencephaly, feeding and sleep problems, developmental delay, lack of speech and jerky movements.
Applied behaviour analysis
An approach for changing behaviour that involves the systematic application of a set of principles derived from psychological theories of learning.
Asperger syndrome
An autistic spectrum disorder that affects the way a person communicates and relates to others. A number of traits of autism are common to Asperger syndrome including:
- difficulty in communicating
- difficulty in social relationships
- a lack of imagination and creative play.
However, people with Asperger syndrome usually have fewer problems with language than those with autism, often speaking fluently though their words can sometimes sound formal or stilted. People with Asperger syndrome also do not have the accompanying learning disabilities often associated with autism; in fact, people with Asperger syndrome are often of average or above average intelligence.
Assessment
A systematic and thorough evaluation of the strengths, weaknesses and problems of a person.
A wide range of highly specialised mechanical, electronic and computer-based tools commonly used in rehabilitation and special education settings.
Attention
The ability to concentrate or attend.
Attention deficit disorder
Deficit in the ability to sustain attention.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
A developmental disorder of early childhood causing problems with attention, activity levels and impulsivity.
Auditory training
Use of a special device to exercise the whole hearing apparatus - the ear drum, the small bones in the ear, the cochlear membrane, etc, as a form of physical therapy.
Autism
A lifelong developmental disability that affects the way a person communicates and relates to people around them. Children and adults with autism are unable to relate to others in a meaningful way. Their ability to develop friendships is impaired, as is their capacity to understand other people's feelings. All people with autism have impairments in social interactions, social communication and imagination. This is referred to as the triad of impairments.
Autistic spectrum disorders
An autistic spectrum disorder is a complex lifelong developmental disability that affects the way a person communicates and relates to people around them. The autistic spectrum includes syndromes described by Kanner and Wing but is wider than these two subgroups. Many people have a mixture of features from these two syndromes but do not fit neatly into either. The whole spectrum is defined by the presence of impairments affecting social interaction, communication and imagination, known as the triad of impairments. This is always accompanied by a narrow repetitive range of activities.
Autoimmune diseases
A collection of conditions in which the body's immune system attacks its own tissues, identifying them as foreign substances. Genetic factors may play a part in this abnormal function, but the causes are not clear.
Autoimmunity
A reaction to an individual's own tissues to which tolerance has been lost. Autoantibodies are not necessarily harmful and are commonly encountered in healthy persons.
Basal ganglia disorder
Degeneration in the basal ganglia region of the brain, causing disturbances of motor function.
Behaviour disorders
Disorders characterised by persistent and repetitive patterns of behaviour that violate societal norms or rules or that seriously impair a person's function.
Behaviour therapy
Scientifically based approach to modifying and shaping behaviour by identifying and manipulating the triggers and reinforcements of specific behaviours.
Behavioural techniques
Psychotherapeutic approaches which use classical conditioning and operant learning techniques in an attempt to eliminate or modify problem behaviour, addressing the client's overt behaviour rather than their thoughts, feelings, or other cognitive processes.
Beta endorphin
Hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland which may affect memory.
Blood brain barrier
A functional semi-permeable membrane separating the brain and cerebrospinal fluid from the blood. It allows small and lipid soluble molecules to pass freely but is impermeable to large or ionized molecules and cells.
Carers
Family members, professionals or para-professionals who provide constant care.
Casein
Protein found in milk and milk products.
Casomorphin
A peptide produced by digestion of the milk protein casein.
Catatonia
Marked motor abnormalities including catalepsy (waxy flexibility - rigid maintenance of a body position over an extended period of time); stupor; apparently purposeless agitation not influenced by external stimuli; apparent motiveless resistance to instructions or attempts to be moved; mutism; stereotyped movements; echolalia and echopraxia.
Central coherence
The drive, in normal development, to try to piece things together, to look at them as details in a whole.
Cerebellum
The "little brain" which sits just above the brain stem. It was previously thought to control movement and coordination but is now known to be involved in "higher functions" as well, particularly shifting and orienting attention and predicting and preparing biologically for upcoming movements (eg, by altering cerebral blood flow levels).
Challenging behaviour
Behaviour of such intensity, frequency or duration that the physical safety of the person or others is likely to be placed in serious jeopardy, or behaviour which is likely to seriously limit or deny access to or use of ordinary community facilities, or impair a child's personal growth, development and family life.
Childhood disintegrative disorder
This refers to a rare occurrence of normal early development until at least age 24 months, followed by a rapid neurodevelopmental regression that results most often in autistic symptomatology. CDD usually occurs between 36 and 48 months of age but may occur up to 10 years of age.
Coeliac disease
Disease affecting the small intestine due to sensitivity to gluten.
Cognitive behavioural therapy
A technique for the treatment of mental disorder that is based on the concept that how people perceive the world and themselves influences their behaviour and emotions.
Communication disorders
Impaired ability to communicate usually due to speech, language or hearing disorders.
Compulsions
Stereotyped behaviours that are repeated again and again. They are not inherently enjoyable, nor do they result in the completion of inherently useful tasks.
Crohn's disease
Inflammatory condition affecting the digestive tract which can occur anywhere from the mouth to the anus, but it usually occurs in the small or large intestine and inflammation extends throughout the whole thickness of the intestinal wall.
Daily life therapy
An educational methodology, framed within normal development, based upon group dynamics, physical education, art, music and academic activity, and vocational training.
DAMP syndrome
A combination of severe dyspraxia and attention deficit disorder characterised by deficits of attention, motor control and perception.
Developmental delay
An abnormal, slower rate of development in which a child demonstrates a functioning level below that observed in normal children of the same age.
Developmental disabilities
Generic terms relating to all children and adults with a substantial continuing disability originating in childhood.
Diagnosis
The skill of distinguishing one disease from another. The opinion arrived at as to the nature of a disease.
Differential diagnosis
How to differentiate one disorder from others that have some similar presenting characteristics.
Domiciliary care
Care provided in the home.
Dopamine
A catecholamine and a precursor to noradrenaline. Its highest concentration is in the basal ganglia part of the brain, where its function is to convey inhibitory influences to the extrapyramidal system of the brain.
Dyskinesia
Abnormal movements of the muscles resulting from a disorder of the brain. Movements are uncoordinated and involuntary and occur in facial as well as limb muscles.
Dyslexia
A significant difficulty with or impairment in reading ability, when reading is compared with other aspects of psychological functioning. Dyslexia can be of various types and have a variety of causes.
Dysphasia
Difficulty in understanding language and in self-expression.
Dyspraxia
Impairment or immaturity of the organisation of movement with associated problems of language, perception and thought.