100 Terms Flashcards
Autism
Neurodevelopmental condition that is usually present at birth with results in deficits in socialization and language.
Aetiology
The underlying cause or causes of a disease or condition
Apraxia
A neurological disorder where the person is unable to perform tasks or movements when asked, although the request or command is understood by the individual.
Asperger Syndrome
A neurological disorder that many also consider to high functioning autism. There are typically deficits in social interaction but language is typically intact. Individuals also often display restrictive, repetitive patterns of interest and activities.
Attachment Theory
This theory explains how infants form relationships with their primary caregivers. This theory emphasizes the importance of the relationship between the caregiver and the child during development.
Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI-R)
A standardized Interview used to assist clinicians when making a differential diagnosis. It reviews the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorders. The clinician typically interviews the parents or primary caregivers.
Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale (ADOS)
An instrument that uses semi-structured format to assess individuals suspected of having an autism spectrum disorder. It assesses language, social skills, and other symptoms commonly associated with ASD.
Bipolar Disorder
A disorder of mood. Mood typically ranges from manic to severe depression.
Chromosomes
These threadlike structures are composed of nuclei acids and proteins, which are found in the nucleus of living cells. They include genetic information in the form of genes.
Differential Diagnosis
When a clinician collects diagnostic information with the goal of differentiating between developmental, cognitive, and/or psychiatric conditions.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
The American Psychiatric Association publishes this manual to assist clinicians when making a diagnosis. The goal of the manual is to ensure there is a common set of criteria when making a diagnosis.
Dyspraxia
A Neurological disorder where the individual understands what is being asked but is unable to respond or perform the task requested.
Dysgraphia
A neurological disorder where an individual understands what is being asked but is unable to respond or perform the task requested.
Encopresis
When an individual, typically a child, continues to soil there clothes although he/she has been toilet-trained.
Endophenotypes
Cognitive Phenotypes
Epilepsy
Seizure Disorders
Facial Dysmorphia
The specific disorder includes abnormalities of the face.
Fragile X Syndrome
Individuals with this disorder often have cognitive impairments. There is damage to the X chromosome. This disorder is inherited.
Genes
Characteristics that are transferred from the parents to their children.
Down Syndrome
Chromosome 21 is involved. Individuals with this genetic disorder typically have cognitive disabilities and specific physical features.
Hydrocephalus
This condition involves increased pressure within the brain due to difficultues of draining of cerebral spinal fluid. As a result, the ventricle becomes enlarged and the head typical become bigger.
Hyperactivity
Excessive movement… like a motor that never stops running. The individual often has difficulties sitting still and/or concentrating.
Hypersensitivity
Highly sensitive to the environment. For example, individuals will often have extreme emotional response to sounds.
Hyposensitivity
A lack or highly limited response to the environment. For example, an individual might not respond to sirens when others are covering their ears due to how loud sirens are.
Incidence
How often a disease occurs within a population.
Intellectual Disability
This term is fairly broad but includes cognitive disabilities.
Kanner Syndrome
This syndrome typically occurs within the first 30 months and infants often displays psychotic symptoms.
Joint Attention
When two individuals are looking or pointing at the same object. Clinicians will often point to an object…if no response… ask a child to look at an object….if no response, they will then often point and ask the child to look at the object to see if the child looks.
Karotyping
The process of identifying the number and appearance of chromosomes.
Metabolic Disorders
A set of disorders that are characterized by deficits in glutamate, cholinergic, and GABAergic transmission.
MMR Vaccine
The vaccination used to prevent individuals from getting measles, mumps and rubella.
Neurofibromatosis
Tumors form on the nerve cell sheaths within the body and brain.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
A disorder that is often diagnosed during childhood, that includes symptoms of anger, noncompliance, disrespect, and sometimes aggression.
PANDAS
This is a difficult disorder to diagnosis. Many clinicians often diagnosis an anxiety disorder because of the severity of the anxiety; however, there is a history of beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection, with raised anti-Streptomycin Otitres, typically within the last 6 months to a year.
PDD-NOS
This is a former diagnosis category with the DSM-IV-TR where there are mild symptoms of autism but the symptoms are not to meet the full diagnostic criteria of autism.
FMRI
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the brain that also monitors blood flow.
PET Scanning
Tomography that results in cross-sectional X-rays of metabolic processes in the body.
Phenotypes
In interaction of an individual’s genotype and the environment …. resulting in observable characteristics.
