Vocab Flashcards
Autism
Neurodevelopmental condition, usually present at birth, with deficits in socialization and language.
Aetiology
The underlying cause or origin of something. eg: disorder
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 neurodevelopmental disorder that many also consider to be 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(s) 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 Schedule (ADOS)
An instrument that uses a semi-structured format to assess individuals suspected of having an autism spectrum disorder. It assesses language, social skills, and other symptoms commonly associated with autism spectrum disorders.
Bipolar Disorder
A disorder of mood. Mood typically ranges from manic to severe depression.
Chromosomes
These threadlike structures are composed of nucleic acids and proteins, which are found in the nucleus of living cells. They include genetic information (DNA) 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 (that often share symptoms.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
(current edition DSM-5) The American Psychiatric Association publishes this manual to assist clinicians when making a diagnosis. The goal of the manual to ensure there is a common set of criteria when making a diagnosis.
Dyspraxia
(Developmental co-ordination disorder, or DCD),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 is unable to write
Encopresis
When an individual, typically a child, continues to soil their clothes although he/she has been toilet trained.
Endophenotypes
Characteristics of a disorder or illness that are not observable (Cognitive phenotypes).
Epilepsy
The fourth most common neurological disorder, affects people of all ages, and causes unpredictable seizures
Facial Dysmorphia
A mental health condition where the sufferer has a warped perception of the appearance of their face, often uncontrollably focusing on flaws.
Fragile X Syndrome
A genetic condition that causes intellectual disability, behavioral and learning challenges and various physical characteristics (including a long and narrow face, large ears, flexible fingers, and large testicles).
Genes
Characteristics that are transferred from the parents to their children.
Down Syndrome
(Also known as trisomy 21) is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21. It is typically associated with physical growth delays, characteristic facial features, and mild to moderate intellectual disability.
Hydrocephalus
A condition in which there is an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the brain. This typically causes increased pressure inside the skull, as well as a larger than average head.
Hyperactivity
A physical state in which a person is abnormally and easily excitable or exuberant.
Leading sign of ADHD, and behaviors such as overactive, inattentive, and impulsive.
Hypersensitivity
Highly sensitive to the environment. For example, individuals will often have extreme emotional response to sounds, lights, and touch.
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
A measure of the probability of occurrence of a given medical condition in a population within a specified period of time.
Intellectual Disability
A disability characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning (reasoning, learning, problem solving) and in adaptive behavior, which covers a range of everyday social and practical skills. This disability originates before the age of 18.
Kanner Syndrome
Historical name for Autism, This syndrome typically occurs within the first 30 months and infant often displays psychotic symptoms.
Joint Attention
The shared focus of two individuals on an object. It is achieved when one individual alerts another to an object by means of eye-gazing, pointing or other verbal or non-verbal indications.
Karyotyping
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.. (eg: diabetes)
MMR Vaccine
Vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella.
Neurofibromatosis
A genetic disorder of the nervous system. Tumors form on the nerve cell sheaths within the body and brain.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
(or ODD) is a childhood disorder that is defined by a pattern of hostile, disobedient, and defiant behaviors directed at adults or other authority figures. ODD is also characterized by children displaying angry and irritable moods, as well as argumentative and vindictive behaviors.
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-haemolytic streptococcal infection, with raised anti-Stretolysin O titres, typicallu within the last 6 months to a year.
PDD-NOS
A former diagnosis category with the DSM-IV-TR where there are mild symptoms of autism but the symptoms are not severe enough to meet the full diagnostic criteria of autism.
fMRI
Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain that also monitors blood flow.
PET Scan
Tomograph that results in cross-sectional X-rays of metabolic processes in the body.
Phenotypes
In interaction of an individuals genotype and the environment…resulting in observable characteristics.
Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
A form of augmentative and alternative communication, which is based upon ABA principles. The system also uses pictures to develop nonverbal and verbal communication.
Prevalence
The overall presence of a disorder, condition, or disease.
Psychogenic
A psychological origin or cause to a disorder as opposed to a physical cause.
Regression
Returning to a former developmental state.
Repetitive Behavior
Repeating the same behavior, both verbal and physical, over and over again.
Savant Abilities
Highly specialized skills or talents.
Selective Mutism
Individuals with this disorder often are unable to speak in specific situations. Often, they will specific to family members but will often not speak in public although they are capable of speech.
Schizoid Personality
A personality disorder where the individual demonstrates a lack of interest in developing and maintaining social relationships. Individuals also often prefer to be alone and often lack empathy.
Social Stories
Stories used to assist individuals in learning appropriate ways to interact with others, as well as participate in activities that are adversive.
TEACCH
A research program used with individuals with ASD. The program emphasizes language development and uses a variety of visual cues to facilitate language development.
Theory of Mind
The ability to understand your own thoughts and understand that others can have separate thoughts and beliefs that are different then your own.
Tourette Syndrome
Individuals with this condition often have difficulty controlling what they say and often display sudden erratic movements. Specifically, they display verbal and physical tics.
Trichotillomania
Individuals with this condition often pull the hair on their head, eyebrows, and/or eyelashes. They often display anxiety, which is often a contributing factor to this disorder.
Trisomy
There is an extra copy of a chromosome present in the cell nuclei.
Adaptive Behavior
An individual’s self-help skills (e.g., dressing, eating, play). Also, includes an individual’s level of communication, motor, and social skills.
Advocacy
Using one’s knowledge and experience to facilitate services or to receive benefits they are due.
Applied Behavior Analysis
A scientific approach used to modify behavior.
Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Approaches, techniques, or methods used to assist individuals with communicate who have speech disorders or disorders of written language.
Comorbid Condition
Two disorders or conditions that occur or are diagnosed together. They co-occur.
Copy Number Variants
This is what collective mutations in nucleotides are called and is one possible explanation for genetic factors playing a part in the aetiology of ASD.
Deviancy Theory
This theory suggests that labeling a child with a specific disruptive behavior disorder will result in the child displaying behaviors consistent with the disorder. For example, if a child is labeled as aggressive that child will begin to display aggressive behavior.
Echolalia
Individuals repeat words, phrases, or sentences that they have just heard or have heard in the past.
Emotional Isolation
Where an individual is emotionally detached or separated from others although he/she has a strong support group or good social network.
Empathy
The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
Epidemiology
Researchers study the patterns, causes, and influences of health and disease on individuals.
Expressive Language
The ability to express thoughts and feelings through speech.
Focal Interest
A highly specific interest
Genome
The haploid set of chromosomes in a gamete or in each cell of a multi-cellular organism.
Hyperlexia
Individuals with this condition have a need to read and often would rather read then participate in other age appropriate activities. Also, when not reading, they often become highly anxious.
Hypomania
Lower levels of mania. Individuals also will often display elation and elevated levels of hyperactivity.
Idiosyncrasy
A behavior that is highly specific to an individual.
Imaginative Play
Play that involves pretending. Children will often include in their play things they have seen and heard.
Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA)
Federal law that outlines the special education law, policies, and procedural requirements that states must follow.
Learning Disability
Difficulties, typically in reading, math, and writing, due to a neurological impairment. Individuals often display cognitive abilities in the average and above range.
Neurodegeneration
The increasing loss of neurological functioning, which includes the loss of neurons.
Neurotoxins
Toxic substances that alter normal neurological activity.
Perseveration
The repetition of a particular response, such as a word, phrase, or gesture, despite the absence or cessation of a stimulus, usually caused by brain injury or other organic disorder.
Over Diagnosis
When individuals are diagnosed and actually do not have the disease or condition. Individuals are over identified.
Phonology
The discipline that studies speech sounds in language
Prader-Willi Syndrome
A rare genetic disorder where seven genes on chromosome 15 are deleted.
Individuals with this disorder often display low muscle tone, short stature, incomplete sexual development, cognitive disabilities, problem behaviors, and a chronic feeling of hunger.
Pragmatic Skills
Understanding the nonverbal meaning of speech. Individuals use the speaker’s tone, facial expressions, and other cues to understanding the meaning.
Pre-linguistic Skills
Beginning forms of speech. Usually assessed by observing the frequency of verbalizations, the goals of the attempted verbalizations, and how well the infant or child responds to verbalizations by others.
Pre-verbal Vocalization
Attempts to communicate prior to the development of speech
Psychoeducation
The process of using reading materials to help individuals learn effective social skills, communication skills, self-help skills, etc.
Psychoeducational Assessment
The process of using reading materials to help individuals learn effective social skills, communication skills, self-help skills, etc.
Psychometric
Measurement area focused on studying the psychometric properties of instruments. For example, the psychometrics of a measure includes understanding validity and reliability.
Psychosis
Unusual behavior where the individual displays difficulties interacting with reality and demonstrates significant impairment in judgement.
Receptive Language
The comprehension of language
Reliability
The accuracy of a measure to assess the same construct (e.g., reading comprehension) repeatedly.
Rigidity
Being stiff or resisting change
Screening
A method used to identify individuals in need of a more comprehensive assessment or treatment.
Sensitivity
The ability of a measure to accurately identify individuals in need of additional assessment or the ability of a measure to accurately diagnosis.
Sensory Integration
This process focuses on utilizing a variety of senses to maintain and/or stimulate behavior. For example, using brushing to calm a child
Social Phobia
The fear of being in public and/or a social situation
Stereotypic
Lacking in spontaneity or originality
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
A federal program designed to provide supplemental financial support for individuals with disabilities who are unable to work
Task Analysis
The process of analyzing a task with the goal of accurately describing the task, understanding the different aspects of the task, and better understanding the internal and external conditions needed when conducting the task
Tertiary
Third in order or level
Validity
How well a test, instrument, or measure assesses (e.g., depression) what is says it will measure.
Visuospatial Reasoning
Visual representations of dynamic properties of objects such as direction, path, or manner of movement.
Wechsler Intelligence Scales
A popular set of instruments used to assess intelligence.
Working Memory
Short-term memory, where the individual actively processes information.
