LD & Autism - Glossary of Terms and Acronyms

AAPEP(related to "PEP", see below)

AAC "Assistive Augmentative Communication" A speech-language therapists' term for communication using a picture board or recorded messages activated by buttons, etc.

ABA "Applied Behavior Analysis"  therapy based on the science of learning and behavior. 

ABC  "Anteceden-Behavior-Consequence"  is a significant component of understanding the function of behavior.

ADA "Americans with Disabilities Act"   USA law that ensures rights of persons with disabilities with regard to employment and other issues.

Adapted PE "Adapted Physical Education" physical education which may be adapted or modified to address the individualized needs of children and youth who have gross motor developmental delays 

ADD "Attention Deficit Disorder" now termed ADHD see below

ADHD "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder" is marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development. 

ADI "Autism Diagnostic Interview"  standardized interview that helps assess a child or individual for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) 

ADOS "Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule" standardized assessment tool used to diagnose autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children and adults. 

AGRE "Autism Genetic Resource Exchange" AGRE is the largest private, open-access repository of clinical and genetic information dedicated to help autism research. 

AIT "Auditory Integration Training"   type of sound therapy 

ANC "Autism National Committee" also known as autcom, an autism advocacy organization dedicated to "Social Justice for All Autistics

aphasia - loss of ability to use or understand words.

apraxia - a neurologically-based disorder that occurs in adults, often (but not exclusively) as a consequence of stroke. The person has difficulty sequencing movements in the service of a goal. e.g., he may have the ability to raise his arm and to wave his hand, but not when he consciously intends to do so. Apraxia may be specific to speech (e.g., "apraxia of speech") or to the movement of other body parts (e.g., "limb apraxia").

apraxia of speech (see definition of "apraxia")

apraxic - having to do with apraxia or a person with apraxia.

AS "Asperger's Syndrome" previously used diagnosis - now called level 1 ASD (Autism spectrum disorder)

ASD " Autism spectrum disorder" neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. 

ASL "American Sign Language" complete, natural language that has the same linguistic properties as spoken languages, with grammar that differs from English. ASL is expressed by movements of the hands and face 

atypical autism - Also known as PDD or PDD-NOS terms no longer used - see  ASD Austism spectrum disorder.  

augmentative communication -  communication augmented by a device, (see for example, PECS)

AUTCOM "Autism National Committee" an autism advocacy organization dedicated to "Social Justice for All Autistic

ABC "Autism Behavior Checklist" list of questions about a child's behavior

Autistic savant - an autistic individual who displays incredible aptitude for one or two skills.

Aversives - unpleasant stimuli that induce changes in behavior  

Bayley Scales comprehensive assessment tool for determining developmental dealys in children.

BRI "Behavioral Research Institute" see JRC.

CARS2 "Clinical Autism Rating Scale 2nd Edition rating" rating scale that identifies children 2 and older with ASD and distinguishes between mid-to-moderate and severe ASD 

CDC "Center for Disease Control"   U.S. government agency.

CF or c/f "casein free" free from casein, a milk protien

CFF "Community Care Facility"  are licensed by the Community Care Licensing Division of the State Department of Social Services to provide 24-hour non-medical residential care to children and adults with developmental disabilities who are in need of personal services, supervision, and/or assistance essential for self 

CHAT "Checklist for Autism in Toddlers"  see M-CHAT

chat - On the autism and other mailing lists, the Internet term "chat" is used to refer to Internet chatting, i.e. using software that allows you to hold online conversations by typing sentences that will be read by a group. There are a number of chat groups dedicated to autism

communications notebook - a notebook sent with a student (typically a special education student or young student) to and from school by which parents and teachers maintain (possibly) daily communication.

Cranio-Sacral Therapy (see "Cranial Sacral" Therapy under "Treatment")  Cluster  Used to label an unusually large number of occurrances of a disease or condition in one place. An "autism cluster" would be an unusually large number of cases of autism in (perhaps) a single locality. Clusters constitute evidence in the search for causes of diseases and conditions.

DAN "Defeat Autism Now"   Also "DAN!" a comprehensive and multidisciplinary treatment approach that aims to address the underlying factors contributing to autism spectrum disorder (ASD).  No Longer Used

DAS "Developmental Apraxia of Speech" 

DD "Developmental Disabilities"

DH "Developmentally Handicapped"

Discrete Trial Methods - term used for some behavioral methods

DSS "Department of Social Services"

DMAE "dimethyl aminoethanol" 

DMG "dimethylglycine" 

DSM-III, DSM-III-R, & DSM-IV "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders."

DTT "Discrete Trial Training" one of several types of teaching strategies that fall under the umbrella of ABA 

DVD "Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia"  a neurological speech disorder that makes it difficult for children to produce speech 

Dyspraxia -  also known as developmental coordination disorder, is a neurodevelopmental condition that begins in childhood that makes it difficult to perform motor skills, 3 types are verbal, oral and motor.

E-2 or E2 - Bernard Rimland's check list from the Autism Research Institute . It functions as an autism rating device, and is basically being used to gather data for study.

EAHCA "The Education for All Handicapped Children Act See "Public Law 94-142".

echolalia - Repeating back something said to you. Delayed Echolalia is repeating it later. Both behaviors are found in many autistics. Functional echolalia is using a quoted phrase in a way that has shared meaning, for example, a child who sings the Barney jingle to ask for a Barney videotape, or says "Get your shoes and socks" to ask to go outside.

EEG "Electroencephalogram" - A test consisting of recording brainwaves as picked up by electrodes. It is used to identify seizures. It is also used to differentiate LKS from other disorders in with autistic symptoms.

"EIBI Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention" ELAP "Early Learning Accomplishment Profile" - evaluation checklist for children used by some professionals

EFA "Essential Fatty Acid" fatty acids that the body can't produce on its own and are essential for many bodily functions. 

Face Blindness or "Prosopagnosia" condition with difficulty recognizing people's faces.

FAPE "Free and Appropriate Education"

FC or F/C "Facilitated Communication" intended to assist a nonverbal person's use of a communication device, such as a computer keyboard, by supporting the individual's hand as he or she selects letters to spell out words. 

FCT "Facilitated Communication Training" A variant of the term "Facilitated communication" 

FEAT "Families for Early Autism Treatment"  not for profit organization

GARS/ GARS3  "Gilliam Autism Rating Scale" helps clinicians identify autism, assess its severity, and determine appropriate intervention 

GF or g/f "gluten free"

HFA "High-functioning Autistic"  isn’t an official medical term or diagnosis. It’s an informal one some people use when they talk about people with autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, who can speak, read, write, and handle basic life skills like eating and getting dressed. They can live independently. 

Higashi - USA Higashi is a school for children with autism located in Boston. 

Hyperlexia - Ability to read at an early age, but often without linking the words to what the word mean. 

Hypotonia - Low muscle tone.

ICD-10 - International Classification of Diseases 10th Edition

ICF "Intermediate Care Facility"

IDEA—The Individuals with Disabilities Act is a US Law mandating "Free and Public Education"

IEP "Individualized Educational Plan" more visit http://theglp.info/resources/sec-504iep

IFSP "Individualized Family Service Plan"

IHP "Individualized Habilitation Program"

IgG - An antibody involved in intravenous immunoglobulin 

IGIV or IgIV "intravenous immunoglobulin" therapy can help people with weakened immune systems or other diseases fight off infections 

IVIG - Same as IGIV.

IVIgG "intravenous gamma globulin" 

IMHO "In My Humble Opinion" 

Inclusion -  the act or practice of including and accommodating people who have historically been excluded 

IPP "Individual Program Plan"

JRC "Judge Rotenberg Center" - a facility in Providence RI run by Matthew Israel, a follower of B.F. Skinner. Extremely controversial due to its use of aversives (electro shock device, ammonia water sprays in face etc.) for self injurious behaviors and noncompliance. The state of Massachusetts has been unable to close it, despite the death of a resident during the administration of a punishment. It was profiled in a television documentary on Connie Chung's _Eye to Eye_ which included footage taken by a hidden camera of various punishments being administered to residents. The JRC was formerly called the Behavioral Research Institute (BRI).

Ketogenic diet - restricted diet used to prevent epileptic seizures.

LCSW "Licensed Clinical Social Worker"

LD "Learning Disabled"

LFA "Low-functioning Autistic" or "Low-functioning Autism"

LKS "Landau-Kleffner Syndrome" a rare nervous system disorder. It causes loss of ability to understand and use language, and it can cause seizures. 

Lovaas The Lovaas Method, also known as Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI), is an evidence-based treatment approach designed to help individuals with ASD develop essential skills and reduce challenging behaviors. It is one of the most widely recognized and researched forms of ABA Therapy. 

LRE "Least Restrictive Environment"

LSH "Language, Speech and Hearing Specialist"

Mainstreaming see also  "inclusion "Placement of a disabled child with non-disabled peers in a regular classroom.

M-CHAT "Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers"  screening questionnaire specific for Autism Spectrum Disorder 

MR "Mentally Retarded" or "Mental Retardation"

MRI "Magnetic Resonance Imaging" - A diagnostic tool in the sense of an X-ray machine or Cat scanner, which like them, creates internal images of the selected parts of the body. Rather than sending X-rays through the body, it builds its image data by testing the magnetism of the body tissue.

MSDD "MultiSystem Developmental Disorder" a term used to describe a group of children with communication, social, and sensory processing problems who do not fit into other categories such as autism 

NAS "National Autistic Society" 

Neuroleptic - also known as antipsychotic medications, are used for the treatment and management of symptoms associated with various psychiatric disorders 

Neurotypical -  (see NT)

NICHCY "National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities"

NIH "National Institutes of Health" U.S. government agency.

NLP "Natural Language Paradigm"  - Note: NLP is also the acronym for something else: "Neuro-Linguistic Programming", and partly for this reason, "Natural Language Paradigm" has been renamed "Pivotal Response Training".

NIMH "National Institutes for Mental Health"

NT "Neurologically Typical" or for short, "Neuro-typical" or "Neurotypical" - A neurotypical person is an individual who thinks, perceives, and behaves in ways that are considered the norm by the general population 

NOS "Not Otherwise Specified" (see "PDD-NOS")

OCD "Obsessive Compulsive Disorder"

OCR "Office of Civil Rights"

ODD "Oppositional Defiant Disorder" childhood mental health condition includes frequent and persistent anger, irritability, arguing, defiance or vindictiveness toward authority. 

OT "Occupational Therapy" or "Occupational Therapist" - a branch of health care that helps people of all ages who have physical, sensory, or cognitive problems 

PANDAS "Pediatric Autoimmune Disorders Associated with Strep"

PDD "Pervasive Development Disorder"  - now known as Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

PDD-NOS or PDD/NOS "Pervasive Development Disorder--Not Otherwise Specified" - now known as Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

PECS "Picture Exchange Communication System" allows people with little or no communication abilities to communicate using pictures. 

PEP "psycho-educational profile" (see "PEP-R")

PEP-R "psycho-educational profile-revised"  or PEP-3 was designed to  measure developmental strengths, weaknesses, and learning style to inform educational programming

Perseveration  the involuntary repetition of a thought, action, or speech without a stimulus or the ability to stop 

Pica  mental health condition where a person compulsively swallows non-food items. 

PET(type of scan)" positron emission tomography"  medical imaging procedure that uses a radioactive tracer to create 3D pictures of the inside of the body 

PPT - "Proprioception", otherwise known as kinesthesia, is your body’s ability to sense movement, action, and location 

PRT "Pivotal Response Training" builds and improves on the basic principles of behavior modification 

PT "Physical Therapy" the treatment of disease, injury, or deformity by physical methods such as massage, heat treatment, and exercise rather than by drugs or surgery 

Public Law 94-142 - Also known as The Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 (EAHCA). USA Federal law providing funds to states that maintain certain standards in their education of handicapped children, i.e. providing a free and appropriate education in a least restrictive environment.

Purkinje cells - A type of cell in the brain. There is a theory that a lack of Purkinje cells is related to autism. This idea came from reports of autopsies on autistic people.

QEEG -  (type of EEG)

Residual state autism - (actually, "infantile autism residual state") A DSM-III (1980) category for individuals who once met the criteria for autism but no longer do so but may retain some residual traits. DSM-IV (1987) dropped the category.

Secretin - A hormone used to diagnose digestive problems

Sensorimotor - Pertaining to brain activity other than automatic functions (respiration, circulation, sleep) or cognition. Sensorimotor activity includes voluntary movement and senses like sight touch and hearing.

Seratonin - A neurotransmitter, i.e. brain chemical that plays a part in communication within the nervous system. It has been noted that the level of seratonin measured in autistic people is sometimes higher than that in typical people. 

SI "Sensory Integration" processes in the brain that allow us to take information we receive from our 5 senses, organize it, and respond appropriately 

SI also sometimes stands for "Speech Impairment"

SIB "Self-Injurious Behavior"

SIT "Sensory Integration Therapy"  clinic-based approach that helps children improve their ability to process and integrate sensory inputs 

SLP or S-LP "Speech-Language Pathologist" also known as a speech therapist, evaluates, diagnoses, and treats people with speech, language, or swallowing disorders.  

SRRI "selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor" are antidepressant medications used to treat depression, anxiety, panic disorder, and several other mental health conditions. 

SSI-DC "Supplimental Security Income-Disabled Child" federal monthly income benefit provided to individuals who are determined disabled by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Individuals, regardless of age, may be determined eligible for SSI payments. 

SSS "Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome" ( or Irlen Syndrome) is a distinct type of visual dyslexia.  

stim -  (e.g. stimming) short for "self-stimulation", a term for behaviors whose sole purpose appears to be to stimulate ones own senses. An example is rocking ones body. Many people with autism report that some 'self stims' may serve a regulatory function for them (ie. calming, adding concentration, shutting out an overwhelming sound). Other examples: hand-flapping, toe-walking, spinning, echolalia.

TEACCH "Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children"  educational and clinical program that aims to help people with autism learn and develop skills 

Theory of mind hypothesis - theory that suggests that autism's social, communicative, and imaginative deficits are caused by impaired metarepresentational ability. 

 TOM "Theory of Mind" the ability to understand others by attributing mental states to them, such as beliefs, desires, intentions, emotions, and thoughts. 

TS "Tourette Syndrome" chronic neurological disorder that causes involuntary, repetitive movements and sounds, called tics, that people cannot control. 

The initials "TS" have also been used for another condition, "Tuberous Sclerosis" 

Upledger Cranio-Sacral Therapy -  "Cranial Sacral Therapy" gentle, hands-on massaging technique. It uses a light touch to release tension around your body’s connective tissue network called the fascia 

Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales - (Vineland-3) is a standardized assessment tool that utilizes semi-structured interview to measure adaptive behavior and support the diagnosis of intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, and developmental delays.