Glossary
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Atonic Seizures - see Epilepsy
Absence Seizures - see Epilepsy
Autism Spectrum Disorders - Individuals with ASD can exhibit a variety of characteristics and the disorder
    can range from mild to severe. Persons with an ASD show marked deficiencies in social skills, have
    difficulties with transitions or changes and prefer sameness. They often have obsessive routines and may be
    preoccupied with a particular subject of interest. They have a great deal of difficulty reading nonverbal cues
    (body language) and very often the individual with ASD has difficulty determining proper body space. Often
    overly sensitive to sounds, tastes, smells, and sights, the person with ASD may prefer soft clothing, certain
    foods, and be bothered by sounds or lights no one else seems to hear or see. Many are developmentally delayed.
    It's important to remember that the person with ASD perceives the world very differently.
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Basic Chromosome Testing - Testing through serum (blood) to look at the most often affected chromosomes in the more
    common genetic syndromes. A FISH screening is a more detailed and extensive test to look for abnormalities on the
    chromosomes.
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Central Auditory Processing Disorder - A Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) is the inability to
    efficiently process speech at the level of the central auditory nervous system. A CAPD is made worse under
    difficult listening situations such as background noise, rapidly presented speech, echoic environments, or
    distracting stimuli. In most cases these children will have normal hearing acuity but often do not appear to be
    paying attention in class.
    Central Auditory Processing Disorder
Cerebral Palsy - A term used to describe a chronic condition affecting body and/or limb movement and the
    control of muscle tone and coordination. It is caused by damage to one or more specific areas of the brain during
    periods of brain development; there is usually no damage to the sensory or motor nerves controlling the muscles.
   The brain damage is not progressive; however, the characteristics of disabilities resulting from brain damage often
    change over time.
     UCP: Main Page
Childhood Depression - Neurobiological disorders, neurobiological brain disorders (NBD), and mental illness are
    terms used for a group of brain disorders that cause disturbances in thinking, feeling, or relating. These
    disorders result in a substantially reduced capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of everyday life
     Neurobiological Brain Disorders: Does my child have one?
    Wing of Madness Depression Community
Cognition - The ability to know and understand.
Complex Partial Seizures - see Epilepsy
Congenital - Existing at and usually before, birth, referring to conditions that are present at birth,
    regardless of their causation.
CPK Test - Creatine Phosphokinase (CPK; Creatine Kinase; CK)  is a type of protein called an enzyme. It
    catalyzes, or "encourages," a biochemical reaction to occur. The normal function of CK in our cells is to add a
    phosphate group to creatine, turning it into the high-energy molecule phosphocreatine. Phosphocreatine is
    burned as a quick source of energy by our cells. However, the normal function of CK isn't as relevant, in this
    case, as what happens to CK when muscle is damaged. During the process of muscle degeneration, muscle cells
    break open and their contents find their way into the bloodstream. Because most of the CK in the body
    normally exists in muscle, a rise in the amount of CK in the blood indicates that muscle damage has occurred,
    or is occurring.
    MDA / Quest Vol 7 No 1 / Simply Stated . . .The Creatine Kinase Test
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Deep Tendon Reflexes - Deep tendon reflexes test an arc of sensory input that travels through the spinal
    cord and results in muscle contraction. Each reflex corresponds to a certain level of the cord, for example
    the "ankle Jerk" is testing the first sacral nerve root. Reflexes are graded on a scale 0-4, with 0 being
    absent, 1 being underactive, 2 and 3 being average, and 4 being clearly hyperactive. 1+ and +1 have the same
    meaning. In general, reflexes are not pathological if symmetric unless they are absent or hyperreflexic.
      Reflexes
    Tendon Reflexes
Delayed Myelin - Myelin is a fatty substance that forms a protective sheath around nerve fibers and serves
    as an electrical insulator, enabling the transmission of nerve signals. In Hypomyelination, or delayed myelin on
    the brain, for sometimes unknown reasons the myelin on the brain does not develop as expected. This can
    cause developmental delays as the signals are disrupted within the brain.
      Myelin Disorders
    The Myelin Project
    The Myelin Messenger
    Myelin
Developmental Delays - When looking at the norm in childhood development, a child with developmental
    delays is behind the norm in gross motor, fine motor, speech, language and/or cognition. How far behind is determined
    by developmental screenings given by trained therapists. Many delays can be overcome with therapy and time.
Developmental Pediatrician - A pediatrician that specializes in child development. Developmental Ped's are
    often the first step in determining what a child's needs are and which doctors to see to further determine a
    possible explanation for a child's issues.
Diastasis Recti - Something often seen in newborns and pregnant women, this is a condition where the muscles in the stomach
    have not fused together in the middle, causing a ridge to rise there when the stomach muscles are used. This usually disappears
    by the time the child is 6-9 months old, however it sometimes takes longer (as in Madison's case).
Dysgraphia - a neurological-based writing disability in which a person finds it hard to form letters or write
    within a defined space.
     LD In Depth: Writing
    Asperger Syndrome:Dysgraphia
Dyslexia - a language-based disability in which a person has trouble understanding words, sentences or
    paragraphs; both oral and written language are affected.
     The ABCs of Dyslexia
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Early Childhood Intervention(ECI) - There are local ECI programs throughout Texas that help children
    during the first three years of life. Texas ECI programs are funded through the Individuals with Disabilities
    Education Act (IDEA) and offer evaluation and therapy services to children from birth to 3 for free, usually in
    the home of the child.
      Early Childhood Intervention
Ear Tubes - myringotomy; tympanostomy - a small incision is made in the ear drum and the accumulated fluid is
    suctioned out. A small tube may be inserted through the eardrum incision to allow fluid to continuously flow
    out and air to enter and dry out the middle ear. Because the incision heals without sutures, the hole closes
    and the ear tubes fall out naturally after a few months.
EEG (sleep deprived and extended) - The electroencephalograph (EEG) is a machine that translates the
     electrical activity of the brain into a series of wavy lines.  This test is done when there is a suspicion that a
    child is having seizure activity. While a valuable tool in the diagnostic process, it is only a part of making the
    diagnosis. Even children with known seizure disorders can have normal EEG's.
Epilepsy - Epilepsy is a general term used for a convulsive disorder with repeated episodes of symptoms ranging from
    momentary loss of consciousness, the repetitive movement of a particular limb or other part of the body, to an overall body
    convulsion.
    Complex Partial Seizures - Seizures with elaborate and multiple sensory, motor, and/or psychic
      components. A common feature is the clouding of consciousness and amnesia for the event. Some clinical
      manifestations may include more complex behaviors like burst of anger, emotional outbursts, fear or
      automatisms. The EEG often reveals spike discharges in the temporal lobe during sleep.
   Atonic Seizures/Drop Attacks - A child or adult suddenly collapses and falls. After 10 seconds to a minute
       he recovers, regains consciousness, and can stand and walk again.
   Absence Seizures - Brief, abrupt loss of consciousness (5 to 10 seconds) followed by a rapid, complete recovery; also
       associated with staring or repetitive eye blinking. Formerly know as petit mal seizures.
       The Epilepsy Foundation: About Us
Epileptologist -  A neurologist that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of Epilepsy.
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Failure to Thrive - A condition characterized by lag in physical growth and development.
Fiber Type I Predominance - A possible finding in a muscle biopsy. While it is not a conclusive result for
    diagnosis, it does indicate that there is something amiss in the muscles and their functioning.
Fine Motor Skills - Fine motor skills are those that use the small muscles of the fingers, toes, wrists, lips,
    and tongue. Among the developmental milestones involving fine motor skills are grasping an object and putting
    it in the mouth, picking up an object with thumb and one finger, transferring an object from one hand to
    another, building a tower, putting rings on sticks or pegs into peg boards, scribbling, turning knobs, throwing a
    small ball, and painting with sweeping strokes.
Fragile X Syndrome - Fragile X syndrome, called Martin-Bell syndrome, is a genetic disorder and is the most
    common form of inherited mental retardation. It is a sex-linked genetic abnormality in which a mother is a
    carrier, transmitting the disorder to her sons. It affects approximately 1 in every 1,000 to 2,000 male
    individuals, and the female carrier frequency may be substantially higher. Males afflicted with this syndrome
    typically have a moderate to severe form of intellectual handicap. Females may also be affected but generally
    have a mild form of impairment. Approximately 15% to 20% of those with Fragile X Syndrome exhibit
    autistic-type behaviors, such as poor eye contact, hand-flapping or odd gesture movements, hand-biting, and
    poor sensory skills. Behavior problems and speech/language delay are common features of Fragile X
    Syndrome. People with Fragile X syndrome also have a number of recognizable physical features, including a
    high arched palate, strabismus (lazy eye), large ears, long face, large testicles in males, poor muscle tone,
    flat feet, and sometimes mild, heart valve abnormalities. Although most individuals with Fragile X
    syndrome have a characteristic 'look' (long face and large ears), there are some who do not have typical
    features.
      FRAXA Research Foundation - Fragile X
    The National Fragile X Foundation - Fragile X Syndrome
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Gastroesophygeal Reflux (GER) - Gastroesophageal reflux describes a backflow of acid from
    the stomach into the swallowing tube or esophagus. Almost everyone experiences gastroesophageal reflux at
    some time. The usual symptom is heartburn, an uncomfortable burning sensation behind the breastbone, most
    commonly occurring after a meal. In some individuals this reflux is frequent or severe enough to cause more
    significant problems, that is a disease. Thus, gastroesophageal reflux disease is a clinical condition that
    occurs when reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus is severe enough to impact the patients life and/or
    damage the esophagus. Many babies grow out of this condition by the time they are 1, and most by the time they
    are 2. The other main group dealing with this disease are adolescents and adults. Some though, like Madison,
    experience this well past the 2 yr old mark and it can be a sign of some kind of motility problem.
Gastroenterologist: A specialist in digestive disorders.
Global Developmental Delays - See developmental delays. Global refers to there being delays in all areas of development,
    including gross motor, fine motor, speech, Language and cognition.
Gross Motor Skills - Gross motor skills involve the large muscles of the arms, legs, torso, and feet. For a
    child, many of the major developmental milestones, such as crawling, sitting up, and walking, are gross motor
    skills. So are the even more complex skills of body control and rhythm, as in jumping, hopping, skipping, moving
    rhythmically to music, throwing, kicking, pushing, pulling, and lifting things.
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Hearing Tests - Tests performed by an Audiologist that identify hearing impairments.
Hemispheric Dominance - The human brain is divided into left and right hemispheres, each having primary
    duties, In most people the right hemisphere is mainly responsible for nonverbal, perceptual abilities. Damage to
    the right brain can cause impaired judgment of tonal patterns and special directions, and poor recognition of geometric
    designs. The left hemisphere regulates verbal functions, including speech, comprehension, or writing and reading abilities.
Hippocampus - The hippocampus is a horseshoe shaped region of the subcortical brain. A part of the limbic system,
    located in the temporal lobe and responsible for consolidating memories into a permanent store.
Hippotherapy: Therapeutic horseback riding is a form of therapy that literally means "treatment with the help of a
    horse." The primary goals are normalizing muscle tone, equilibrium reactions, head and trunk control, coordination and
    spatial orientation. It is proposed that the multidimensional swinging rhythm of the horse's walk is transferred to the
    patient's pelvis in a manner that duplicates the normal human gait.
Hypotonia - The name literally means "a harmless case of poor muscle tone (strength, elasticity) since birth".
    It is a descriptive label for any congenital disease whose main symptoms are weak and floppy muscles. "Benign
    congenital hypotonia" is often inaccurately used as if it were a proper disease in its own right. If this is the
    only diagnosis given, it is not really a diagnosis, but a label for "we don't know". A diagnosis of BCH is
    sometimes considered a form of muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy, depending on the symptoms and the
    doctor. If the cause of the hypotonia is thought to lie in the brain, then it might be classified as a cerebral
    palsy. If the cause seems to be in the muscles, it might be classified as a muscular dystrophy, even though
    most forms of BCH are not seriously dystrophic. If the cause is thought to be in the nerves, it could be
    classified as either or neither. In any case, BCH is rarely an actual muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy, and
    is often not classified as either one, or anything at all for that matter.
    About Benign Congenital Hypotonia
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Language Delays - Language disorder refers to any impairment in:
    Form, including phonology, morphology, and syntax, for example, misuse or misunderstanding of the information provided
         by word endings: "The boy eat his dinner."
    Semantics (meaning), for example, difficulty understanding idioms: "It's raining cats and dogs."
    Pragmatics (function), for example, using language for different purposes (promising, requesting), changing language for
         listener needs (peer vs. teacher), or following the rules of conversation (turn taking, introducing topics of
         conversation, and staying on the topic).
Learning Differences - LD is a disorder that affects people's ability to either interpret what they see and
    hear or to link information from different parts of the brain. These limitations can show up in many ways--as
    specific difficulties with spoken and written language, coordination, self-control, or attention. Such
    difficulties extend to schoolwork and can impede learning to read or write, or to do math.
     LEARNING DISABILITIES
Leg Length Discrepancy - A discrepancy between the length of one's legs.
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Macrocephaly: An abnormally large head.
Mitochondrial Disease(MITO) -
  What are mitochondria?
    In the cytoplasm of most human cells there are hundreds to thousands of pink oblong shaped mitochondria.
    Mitochondria are tiny structures that process oxygen and convert fatty acids, carbohydrates, and proteins
    from the food we eat into energy.
    What is a mitochondrial disorder?
    The mitochondria produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the body's mobile energy source. When mutations
    occur which affect the mitochondria, the vital supply of ATP is disrupted, less and less energy is generated
    within the cell. When this process is repeated on a large scale throughout the body, whole systems begin to
    fail, and the life of the person in whom this is happening can be compromised, changed or even ended. The
    cells that require the most energy, like the brain, heart and skeletal muscles, are the most vulnerable.
     United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation - About Mitochondrial Disease
    MDA / Quest 6-5 / Mitochondrial Disease in Perspective - Symptoms, Diagnosis and Hope For The Future
    Childrens Mitochondrial Disease NetworkHomepage
Modified Barium Swallow Study - During a Modified Barium Swallow Study (MBSS), moving x-rays are
    used to take pictures of a child’s swallow. The child sits in a special support chair. He or she is given food
    items that are mixed with barium, a substance which outlines the structures inside the mouth and throat so
    they can be viewed by X-rays. An MBSS is done so that any problems with a child’s swallowing can be identified.
    It also can help determine the food textures that can be safely given to a child who has trouble swallowing.
    Feeding and Swallowing Clinic - Modified Barium Swallow Study (MBSS)
Montessori - The "Montessori method" developed from the work of Dr. Maria Montessori in the early 1900's,
    from her efforts to scientifically study the child's true nature. She observed children free to engage in activities
    of their own choice in a well-ordered physical environment. In 1907, she discovered that young children under these
    circumstances return to a normal state of being in harmony with their entire environment. She observed that these
    "normalized" children show such qualities as spontaneous self-discipline, love of order and concentrated attention
    and interest to intellectual activity. Montessori teaching today aims to duplicate the first environment of
    Dr. Montessori, by following such laws of nature as:
    "Observation"   "Individual Liberty" and   "Preparation of the Environment"
    These three Montessori principles guide the teacher to "control the environment, not the child"; to look at the child
    as an "unknown entity" and allow its true nature to freely emerge. Montessori teaching is therefore a way of being
    committed to these three fundamental laws of nature. This special way of being allows the child to freely emerge
    according to its own true nature; its "normalized" being. Montessori teacher education is an "inner preparation" to
    become aware of these principles so that they can be put into practice with children. The idea of "control the
    environment, not the child" must be employed, and this requires a particular care in controlling one's own "personality".
MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging: An imaging technique which uses radio waves, magnetic field, and computer analysis to
     create a picture of body tissues and structures.
Muscle Biopsy - A biopsy is a minor surgical procedure where an incision is made to remove a small sample of muscle.
    GENERAL INDICATIONS FOR MUSCLE BIOPSIES...... Presence of some evidence of muscle disease
         Weakness
         Muscle symptoms: Discomfort; Cramps; Fatigue with activity (r/o myasthenia)
         Elevated (very high or high) creatine kinase (CK)
         Myopathic EMG
Muscle Tone - The amount of tension or resistance to movement in a muscle. The amount of contraction of a
    muscle when it is at rest.
Muscular Dystrophy - Muscular Dystrophy (MD) is the name of a group of muscle disorders that are characterized by
     progressive weakness and wasting of the voluntary muscles that control body movement. As muscle tissue weakens and wastes
    away, it is replaced by fatty and connective tissue.
    Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) USA Home Page
Myopathy - These myopathies occur rarely and are not often fatal. The effects are generally mild, primarily leading
    to muscle weakness and affecting movement. Only rarely do patients become wheelchair-dependent. Many of these
    myopathies involve occasional attacks that produce temporary muscle weakness or stiffness, and patients can learn
    what circumstances trigger the attacks. Treatments have been developed for some of these conditions, and knowledge
    is expanding rapidly about others.
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Nasopharyngeal Reflux (NPR) - Reflux of food into the nasal cavities.
     Breathing Problems
Neurology/Pediatric Neurology/Neurologist - A physician specializing in medical problems associated with the
    nervous system.
Neuromuscular Specialist - A neurologist who specializes in neuromuscular disorders.
Neuropsychologist - a psychologist who specializes in studying brain behavior relationships. Neuropsychologists
    have extensive training in the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the nervous system. Some neuropsychologists
    specialize in research while other neuropsychologists specialize in evaluating and treating people who are thought
    to have something wrong with the way in which their nervous system is functioning.
    Neuropsychologist?
Nonverbal Learning Disorder(NLD) - The NLD syndrome reveals itself in impaired abilities to organize the
    visual-spatial field, adapt to new or novel situations, and/or accurately read nonverbal signals and cues. It
    appears to be the reverse syndrome of dyslexia. Although academic progress is made, such a student will
    have difficulty "producing" in situations where speed and adaptability are required. Whereas language-based
    learning disorders have been shown to be genetic in origin, heredity has not, as yet, been linked to NLD. It is
    known that nonverbal learning disabilities involve the performance processes (generally thought of
    neurologically as originating in the right cerebral hemisphere of the brain, which specializes in nonverbal
    processing).
    THE GRAM: Nonverbal Learning Disorders
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder-
Occupational Therapy/Therapist(OT) - A clinical program aimed at improving fine motor skills and adaptive
    skills for people with disabilities. Primary goal is to maximize a person's functional potential in all environments
    (home, school, community). A therapist who specializes in improving the development of fine motor and adaptive skills.
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Physical Therapy/Therapist(PT) - A clinical program aimed at improving motor skills, particularly gross
    motor skills. A therapist who who assess and treats problems with gross motor skills.
Play Therapy - Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) follows the principles of Client-Centered Therapy of creating a
    non-judgmental, emotionally supportive therapeutic atmosphere, but with clear boundaries that provide the child with
    psychological safety to permit the learning of emotional and behavioral self-regulation.
Pronating and Flat Feet - Turning inward of a foot.
Prozac - (fluoxetine) member of a new anti-depressant class called the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
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Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children -  was founded in 1921 primarily to treat children with polio.
    Since then, the full-time medical staff has grown to an interdisciplinary team composed of orthopedic surgeons,
    neurologists, pediatricians, radiologists and anesthesiologists. Their primary objective is the treatment of children
    with orthopedic and neuromuscular problems. Their skills are reinforced by consulting specialists such as rheumatologists,
    urologists, neurosurgeons and others. The Hospital was founded on the idea that a child's medical care should not be
    based on the family's ability to pay. There is no charge for treatment at Scottish Rite. The Hospital is supported solely
    by voluntary contributions. Most services at the Hospital are provided through Ambulatory Care. All clinic visits are by
    appointment. The Hospital is recognized internationally for its research which is focused on finding better ways to help
    children with chronic neuromuscular and orthopedic disorders.
Self Help - Relating to skills such as eating, dressing, bathing, and cleaning which enable a person to care for himself.
Sensory Integration Dysfunction/Therapy - The ability of the central nervous system to process and learn from
    sensations such as touch, sound, light, smell, and movement. Techniques used by some OTs and PTs aimed at helping
    children sort out and organize sensations, thereby improving hyper- or hyposensitivites and fine motor skills.
Skull fracture - A fracture or break in the cranial (skull) bones.
Social Delays - Difficulty in the ability to function in groups and to interact with people.
Social Skills Group - Groups led by experienced clinical psychologists are designed to help children and adolescents acquire,
     practice and generalize age-appropriate social skills.
Speech Delay - The two main types of speech delay are expressive delays, which is the inability to generate speech, or
    receptive delays, the inability to decode or understand the speech of others. Or children can have a delay with a mix of both
    types (mixed expressive/receptive delay).
    Keep Kids Healthy Common Problems: speech delay
Speech Therapy/Speech Language Pathologist(SLP) - A clinical program aimed at improving speech and language skills
    and oral motor abilities. A therapist who helps develop and maintain skills for communication, swallowing and eating and other
    oral-motor behaviors (including controlling saliva, maintaining normal oral postures and brushing teeth).
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Tegretol - (CARBAMAZEPINE, Atretol, Carbatrol, Epitol, Tegretol-XR) is used to control some types of seizures in the
     treatment of epilepsy.
Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome -
Tics (Verbal and Motor) - Tics come in three major types. First, there are tics that involve movements of the body.
    They are called motor tics. Second, there are vocal tics, which involve sounds or words. Thirdly, there are complex tics
    which can involve complicated sequences of vocal and motor tics.
Tourette's Syndrome -
Tympanometer: An electrical instrument which measures changes in pressure and mobility of the eardrum to detect middle ear
    fluid.
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Upper GI - The upper gastrointestinal (GI) series uses x-rays to diagnose problems in the esophagus, stomach,
    and duodenum (first part of the small intestine). It may also be used to examine the small intestine. The upper GI
    series can show a blockage, abnormal growth, ulcer, or a problem with the way an organ is working.
 Upper GI Series
Urologist: A physician who specializes in urinary diseases.
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Velopharyngeal Insufficiency (VPI) - is the inability to close off the nasopharynx during speech or swallowing.
Visual Processing - involves how well your brain can use visual information.
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Zoloft - member of a new anti-depressant class called the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
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