Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder
A condition defined by a collection of behaviors, which include severe problems with communication, and behavior. The cause is unknown.
Atrophy
A condition in which the muscles diminish in size and strength due to lack of use.
Arthritis
Inflammation of the joint.
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
The pattern of behavior that combines inattention and impulsively, and may be present with hyperactivity (ADHD).
Braces
Splints used to support or hold parts of the body in the correct position, such as leg braces used by a person with spina bifida.
Cervical
The region around the neck on the spinal column.
Cerebral Palsy (CP)
A condition resulting from damage to the brain before birth, during delivery, or immediately after birth, usually as a result of the deprivation of oxygen to the brain. Cerebral refers to the brain and palsy refers to movement, posture, or balance.
Cognitive
Having to do with the brain and mental processing.
Developmental Disabilities (DD)
The term that includes disabilities that are mental or physical in nature, or a combination of both. The condition must originate before the person reaches the age of 18, will continue indefinitely, and results in a substantial disability. Includes mental retardation, Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, Autism, Down Syndrome and others.
Diplegia
Involvement of the condition such as CP or spina bifida in the legs only.
Down Syndrome(DS)
A chromosomal disorder caused by an extra chromosome on the 21st pair giving the person a total of 47, instead of 46 chromosomes. Typical symptoms include mild mental retardation, hearing difficulty, vision problems, heart murmurs and disease, speech difficulty. People with Down Syndrome share similar physical features such as small stature, short fingers, thick tongue, squinty eyes, and a round face.
Epilepsy
Sometimes called a seizure disorder; a medical condition in which people are susceptible to recurring seizures of various types.
Flaccid
Lack of muscle tone, loose muscle tone.
Gait
Description of how a person walks.
Hemiplegia
Impairment of both limbs on the same side of the body due to damage to the brain. May also involve impairment of the senses and mental functioning. Typically caused by head injury, stroke or sometimes CP.
Incontinence
Lack of bladder or bowel control.
Learning Disability (LD)
Difficulty in learning as characterized by the inability to learn from standard methods of instruction; the cause of this difficulty in learning is not an abnormal intelligence level, or psychological problem, or an obvious physical disability.
Lumbar
The location of the mid to lower back on the spinal column.
Medication
A therapeutic substance taken to relieve discomfort.
Mental Retardation (MR)
People with MR develop intellectually at a below average rate and experience difficulty in learning and social adjustment.
Occupational Therapy
The profession that focuses on the strength and coordination of fine or small muscle groups and the activities of daily living, such as dressing and eating and the motor skills needed in the workplace.
Paraplegic
Involvement or paralysis in the legs only. Can be completely or incompletely paralyzed in the legs.
Physical Therapist
The profession that focuses on the strength, coordination, and the range of motion of gross or large muscles such as walking and standing.
Quadriplegic
Involvement or paralysis of all limbs - arms and legs. May be completely or incompletely paralyzed.
Recreation Therapist
Profession that teaches people how to include leisure and recreation into their lives in spite of a disabling condition.
Range of Motion (ROM)
An arc of movement of the joint, such as the range of motion of the elbow.
Seizure
A brief episode of disorderly electrical activity in the brain that affects its normal functions and produces changes in a person’s movement, behavior, or consciousness. The kind of seizure a person has depends on how much of the brain is affected.
Sensation
Physical feeling such as touch, pain, temperature, and awareness of where a body part is in space.
Spastic
Stiffness in the muscles, difficulty getting the muscles to relax, so they will cooperate.
Spina Bifida
A birth defect in the spinal column resulting from the failure of the spine to close during the first month of pregnancy. Cause is unknown.
Stroke (AKA Cerebro-vascular Accident or CVA)
A sudden, usually severe impairment of body functions caused by a disruption in the supply of blood to the brain, which may result in paralysis on one side, speech difficulties, and/or mental impairments.
Thoracic
The location of the chest to mid back level of the spinal column.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Damage to the brain as a result of a trauma to the head. Causes include: motor vehicle accident, bullet wounds, violent shaking, or any other strike or blow to the head.