Copy of `Research Autism - Glossary of autism spectrum`

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Research Autism - Glossary of autism spectrum Category: Health and Medicine > Autism Date & country: 16/12/2007, UK Words: 577

Opioid
Substance with pharmacological action like that of opium or its derivatives. Some people believe that some of the symptoms of ASDare caused by the build up of opiods in the bodies of people with ASD.

Open Trial
A clinical trial in which the investigator and participant are aware which intervention is being used for which participant (i.e. not blinded).

Online communities
Range of online groups - such as listservs, chatrooms, forums and websites - used by people with autistic spectrum disorders to talk to one another

Omega-3
Polyunsaturated fatty acids obtained from some types of food, such as fish. Believed by some people to be helpful in preventing the symptoms of autism.

Olanzapine
Type of Atypical Anti-psychotic

Oligoprocyanthocyanidin
Anti-oxidant food supplement

Off-label
Use of a drug for which the US Food and Drug Administration has not issued formal approval.

Ocular Light Therapy
A form of lightwave stimulation in which an individual looks at coloured light produced by a special machine called a Lumatron or a Photron Light Stimulator.

OCD
Acronym for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Occupational therapy
Therapy which aims to enable people to participate in daily activities as independently and satisfactorily as possible,using meaningful activities as a means to do this

Obsessive
Obsessive thoughts are ideas, pictures of thoughts or impulses, which repeatedly enter the mind.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Disorder where a person has recurrent unwanted ideas (obsessions) & an urge (compulsion) to do something to relieve the obsession.

Observational Study
A study in which the investigators do not seek to intervene, and simply observe the course of events

NVLD
Acronym for Non-Verbal Learning Disorder

Nystatin
Type of Anti-fungalmedication

Nosology
Branch of medicine that deals with classification of diseases.

Nosology
Systematic classification of diseases

NT
Acronym for neurotypical, a term sometimes used to describe people without an autistic spectrum disorder.

Normalized interventions
Another term for Relationship-Based Interventions

Non-Verbal Learning Disorder
Condtion in which indiviudals demonstrate the behaviour pattern of Asperger syndrome, who also have problems with the non-verbal skills of arithmetic and some visuo-spatial skills.

NICE
Acronym for the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.

Neurotypical
Term sometimes used to describe people without an autistic spectrum disorder.

Neurofeedback
Another name for Biofeedback

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Life-threatening, neurological disorder most often caused by an adverse reaction to neuroleptic or antipsychotic drugs.

Neuro-Development Delay
Physical, sensory integration programme to identify and help remediate motor and perceptual problems.

Needle therapy
Another name for Acupuncture or Neural therapy

Neural therapy
Injection of local anesthetics into key parts of the body

NDF
Also known as Nannocolloidal Detox Factors - an agent used in Chelation

Narcotic antagonist
Class of drugs used mainly to work against the effects of narcotics

Natural Language Paradigm
Another term for Pivotal Response Training

Naltrexone
An opioid antagonist used to treat conditions such as alcohol dependence and opioid dependence. Also sometimes used to treat autism.

NAC
Also known as N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine, an agent used in Chelation

Mutism, Elective
Condition in which children talk in one situation, for example, at home, but remain silent elsewhere, eg, at school.

Music Therapy
Therapy which uses music to encourage children with autism to create their own music. The therapist uses percussion or tuned instruments, or her own voice, to stimulate a response from the child.

Muscular Dystrophy
Group of disorders characterized by progressive muscle weakness and loss of muscle tissue. More common in people with autism.

Multi-sensory environment
Intervention which uses a range of sensory stimulations

Motor skills
Skills relating to movement of the body or part of the body. For example, the skill required to stand upright or hold a pencil.

Movement therapies
Wide range of therapies involving movement of the body, including Dance, Tai Chi, Yoga

Motor Coordination Disorder
Another term for Dyspraxia.

Morbidity
Illness or harm.

More than Words
Another name for the Hanen Program

Mood stabilisers
Class of drugs, used to treat mood disorders (such as depression)

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor
Type of Anti-depresssant

Montessori education
Based upon the idea that children learn directly from their environment and relatively little from listening to a teacher talking to a class

Modified Environment
Another name for Environmental modification

Minocycline
Type of Anti-biotic

Mirtazapine
Type of SSRI Anti-depresssant

Mobius Syndrome
Rare birth defect caused by the absence or underdevelopment of the cranial nerves, which control eye movements and facial expression. More common in people with autism.

Miller Method
Intervention based on 'Cognitive-developmental systems theory' which assumes that typical development depends on the ability of the children to form systems and organised 'chunks' of behaviour

Miller Dieker Syndrome
Neural migration disorder in which the convolutions of the cerebral cortex are either completely absent or reduced in number, giving the brain surface a smooth appearance. Problems include developmental delay, microcephaly and seizures.

Microcephaly
Neurological disorder in which the circumference of the head is significantly smaller than average for the person's age or sex

Milieu Training
Method of teaching language and social skills to children with disabilities

Methyl-B12
Another term for Methylcobalamin - a form of B12, a vitamin

Methylcobalamin
Form of B12, a vitamin

Methylphenidate
A form of stimulant medication, used to treat inattention and hyperactivity. The best known brand is probably Ritalin.

Metamorphic Technique
Type of Reflexology

Methionine
An essential amino acid

Meta-Analysis
The use of statistical techniques in a systematic review to integrate the results of included studies

Message Board
Type of Online Community

Mental Handicap or Retardation
Other terms for Learning Difficulty or Disability. (Not generally used in the UK where these terms are considered to be grossly offensive.)

Melatonin
Hormone which regulates our biological clock. Used as a treatment for sleep disorders.

Mega-Vitamin Therapy
Another term for multiple Mineral supplements

Mears-Irlen Syndrome
Another term for Irlen Syndrome.

Mediated Learning
Educational programme based on the idea that because intelligence is plastic and changeable, not fixed, it can be 'taught' within a mediated learning environment

Mean
An average value, calculated by adding all the observations and dividing by the number of observations.

Massage
Practice of applying pressure, tension, motion, or vibration to the soft tissues of the body

May Institute program
Behavioural programme based on the principles of Applied Behavioural Analysis

MAOI
Acronym for Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor - a type of Anti-depresssant

Masking
Another term for blinding.

Manual Signing
Another term for Sign Language

Makaton
Language programme which uses signs and symbols to teach communication, language and literacy skills to people with communication and learning difficulties

Magnesium sulphate
Chemical somtimes taken as a bath, which promotes perspiration and draws acidic wastes - mainly uric acid - through the pores of the skin

Magnesium
Mineral, sometimes taken as a dietary supplement

LWS
Acronym for Lightwave Stimulation, a therapy in which an individual looks at coloured light produced by a special machine called a Lumatron or a Photron Light Stimulator.

Lumatron therapy
A form of lightwave stimulation in which an individual looks at coloured light produced by a special machine called a Lumatron.

Low salicylate diet
Diet which avoids or eliminates salicylate, a plant hormone found in leafy vegetables and fruit

Lovass method
Dr. I. Lovaas invented the Lovaas method, also known as Intensive Behavioural Intervention. It is a form of Applied Behavioural Analysis used to treat people with autism.

List serv
Type of Online Community

LiverLife
Brand name of a herbal supplement designed to detoxify the liver

Lightwave Stimulation
Therapy that involves stimulating the retina with appropriately coloured lights. Some people believe this can increase the ability of the neuro-visual pathways to transmit photocurrent to the different parts of the brain. This in turn leads to improved mental, emotional and physical wellbeing and enhanced performance.

Light therapies
Group of therapies which use light in one form or another

Leuprolide
Drug which turns off the production of testosterone. Some people believe testosterone reduces the effectiveness of chelation, a chemical intervention used to treat autism.

Lesch Nyhan Syndrome
Rare, inherited disorder caused by a deficiency of the enzyme hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT), It causes hyperuricaemia (high serum levels of uric acid). People with this syndrome are prone to have uric acid kidney stones and learning disabilities.

Lekotek
Programme to lend assistive technology, toys and expertise to disabled children

LEGO© therapy
Therapy in which LEGO© building materials are used to encourage children with autism to play with and communicate with other people.

Learning Disability
Permanent condition, arising during childhood or adolescence, characterised by a state of incomplete development of mind that includes significant impairments of intelligence and social functioning.

Lateral pressure equipment
Devices, such as the Hug Machine, which allows individuals to apply deep pressure to themselves

LEAP
Acronym for Learning Experiences, An Alternative Program for Preschoolers and Parents

Ketogenic diet
High fat, adequate protein, low carbohydrate diet,.

Kanner`s Syndrome
Another term for Autism. Dr. Kanner was the first to report autism.

Joint Action Routines
Technique used in Applied Behavioural Analysis and some other interventions

Joint attention
Ability to follow someone else's gaze and share the experience of looking at an object or activity

Irlen Syndrome
Another term for Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome.

IVIG
Acronym for Intraveneous Immunoglobulin

Irlen lenses
Lenses prescribed and supplied by the Irlen Institute to alleviate the symptoms of Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome.

Intuitive Overlay
Piece of coloured, transparent plastic. Believed by some people to help alleviate the symptoms of Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome

Intuitive Colorimeter
Optical device that shines coloured light on a page of text and allows the user to vary the light so that he or she can see better.

Internet community
Another name for Online Community

Intervention
Medical term for any action, such as a treatment or therapy, used to improve a condition such as autism.

Interactive metronome
Therapy in which the individual synchronizes a range of hand and foot exercises to a computer-generated tone heard through headphones