Glossary of scientific terms

Obsession: A repetitive, unwanted irrational thought, often leading to compulsive behaviour.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): People with obsessive-compulsive disorder suffer intensely from recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) or rituals (compulsions), which they feel they cannot control.

Occupational therapist (O.T.): A therapist who specializes in improving the development of fine motor and adaptive skills.

Oral motor: Relating to he movement of muscles in and around the mouth.

Parent-professional partnership: The teaming of parents and teachers (or doctors, nurses, or other professionals) to work together to facilitate the development of babies and children with special needs.

Perseveration: Repetitive movement or speech that is thought to be created by the person’s own inner preoccupations.

PET and SPET scans: PET stands for Positron Emission Tomography. This type of scan involves the administration of radio-labelled substances (breathing special gases, injections, etc.) which are preferentially taken up by certain regions of the brain or body, and then emit radio signals from them. These signals are measured with a scanner, and the information is used to create a picture of the region under investigation. This is similar to SPET (Single Photon Emission Tomography), but produces a more accurate image. SPET is however more widely available, and so is often recommended in preference to PET.

Phenylketonuria: An inherited biochemical abnormality that results in faulty breakdown of key substances in the blood. Consequently there are phenylketones in the urine (hence the name “phenylketonuria”), and an accumulation of noxious substances which may damage the brain. A special diet can prevent problems.

Physical therapist (P.T.): A therapist who works with motor skills.

Pica: The eating and chewing of inedible substances.

Pincer grasp: The use of the thumb and forefinger to grasp small objects.

Placement: The selection of the educational program for a child who needs special education programs.

Prompt: Input that encourages a child to perform a movement or activity. See Cue.

Pronoun reversal: The incorrect use of words like “you”.

Punishment: A consequence that is applied following a behavior to reduce the probability of that behavior occurring again. Punishment can be very mild (a frown or scolding), more moderate (a brief time-out), or very severe (electric shock to reduce life-threatening behavior).

Receptive language: The ability to understand spoken and written communication as well as gestures.

Reinforcement: Providing a pleasant consequence (positive reinforcement) or removing an unpleasant consequence (negative reinforcement) after a behavior in order to increase or maintain that behavior.

Related services: Services that enable a child to benefit from special education. Related services include speech, occupational, and physical therapies, as well as transportation,

Respite care: Skilled adult – or child-care and supervision that can be provided in your home or the home of a care-provider. Respite care may be available for several hours per week or for overnight stays.

Retinoblastoma: A tumor of the retina of the eye, often evident in infancy.

Rett’s syndrome: A condition affecting females, characterized by profound handicap, spasticity in the legs, and problems with walking, as well as a tendency to hand-washing or hand-wringing repetitive movements.

Rubella: The rubella virus is responsible for German measles. If a pregnants mother develops German measles, the virus may, as with the cytomegalovirus, also infect and damage the unborn baby. An infant that has been infected by rubella may as a result be blind and/or deaf, and have additional mental handicap.