| ABA | Applied Behavior Analysis – Acronym commonly used by adherents of some behavioral techniques to refer to a kind of careful analysis and tracking of behavior including its cues and consequences. |
| ABC | Antecedents-Behavior-Consequences |
| ADA | Americans with Disabilities Act – USA law that ensures rights of persons with disabilities with regard to employment and other issues. |
| ADD | Attention Deficit Disorder |
| ADHD | Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder |
| ADI | Autism Diagnosis Interview – A diagnostic scale for autism being developed by the Medical Research Council in London |
| ADOS | Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale |
| AIT | Auditory Integration Training |
| ANC | Autism National Committee (organization) |
| ANDI | Autism Network for Dietary Intervention |
| APD | Auditory Processing Disorder |
| Aphasia | Loss of ability to use or understand words |
| Apraxia | A neurologically based disorder which occurs in adults, often (but not exclusively) as a consequence of stroke. The person has difficult sequencing movements in the service of a goal (ex: he may have the ability to raise his arm and wave his hand, but not when he consciously intendes to do so) apraxia may be specific to speech (e.g., “apraxia of speech”) or to the movement of other body parts (e.g., “limb apraxia”). |
| Apraxic | Having to do with apraxia or a person with apraxia |
| ARI | Autism Research Institute |
| ARRI | Autism Research Review International |
| AS | Asperger’s Syndrome/Autism Spectrum |
| ASA | Autism Society of America |
| ASD | Autism Spectrum Disorder |
| ASL | American Sign Language |
| Aspie | A person with Asperger’s Syndrome |
| Atypical autism | A general term for conditions that are close to but don’t quite fit the set of conditions of autism or other specific conditions. |
| Augmentative communication | Communication augmented by a device |
| Autie | A person with Autism |
| Autistic savant | An autistic individual who displays incredible aptitude for one or two skills |
| Autistic Spectrum Disorders | Term that encompasses autism and similar disorders. More specifically, the following five disorders listed in DSM-IV: Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, PDD-NOS, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and Rett’s Disorder. |
| Aversives | Behavioral methods employing punishment rather than positive reinforcement |
| BBB | Blood Brain Barrier (envelope that surrounds the brain) |
| BCBA | Board Certified Behavior Analyst |
| BCABA | Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst |
| BD | Behavioral Disorder |
| BIC | Behavior Improvement Class |
| BIP | Behavior Improvement Plan |
| CAN | Cure Autism Now (organization) |
| CAPD | Central Auditory Processing Disorder |
| CARS | Childhood Autism Rating Scale – a test developed at TEACCH to diagnose autism. The child is rated in 15 areas on a scale up to 4 yielding a total up to 60, ranges are considered to be non-autistic, autistic, and severely autistic. |
| CCF | Community Care Facility |
| CD | Celiac Disease |
| CDC | Centers for Disease Control (US Government Agency) |
| CF | Casein Free |
| CHAT | Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (diagnostic tool) – A checklist used by General Practitioners at 18 months to see if a child has autism. |
| CLO | Cod Liver Oil |
| Cluster | Term used to label an unusually large number of occurrences of a disease or condition in one place. An “autism cluster” would be an unusually large number of cases of autism in (perhaps) a single locality. Clusters constitute evidence in the search for causes of diseases and conditions. |
| Communications notebook | A notebook sent with a student (typically a special education student or young student) to and from school by which parents and teachers maintain (possibly) daily communication |
| CP | Cerebral Palsy |
| CPS | Child Protective Services |
| DAN! | Defeat Autism Now! (Conferences, protocols set up by ARI under Richard Rimland) |
| DAN Doctor | A physician who uses the DAN Protocol to diagnose autism |
| DAN Protocol | An assessment protocol that examines the underlying disorders causing autism |
| DAS | Developmental Apraxia of Speech |
| DCD | Development Coordination Disorder |
| DD | Developmentally Delayed |
| Discrete trial methods | Term used for some behavioral methods (e.g., the Lovaas Method) |
| DH | Developmentally Handicapped |
| DHH | Deaf and Hard of Hearing |
| DMAE | Dimethyl Aminoethanol |
| DMG | Dimethylgycine |
| DSM | Disability Statistical Manual (catalog of medical diagnoses) |
| DSM-III | Diagnostic Statistical Manual (edition III) |
| DSM-IV | Diagnostic Statistical Manual (edition IV-current version of this publication) |
| DSMR | Diagnostic Statistical Manual-Revised |
| DSS | Department of Social Services |
| DTT | Discrete Trial Training – Lovaas’s ABA-ased method for treating children with autism |
| DX | Diagnosed |
| Dyspraxia | Term for a neurological symptom: a problem with “praxis” (i.e., planning, initiating, sequencing, and carrying out volitional movements. |
| ECG | Electrocardiogram |
| Echolalia | Repeating back something said to you. Delayed Echolalia is repeating it later. Both behaviors are found in many autistics. Functional Echolalia is using a quoted phrase in a way that has shared meaning. (ex: a child who sings the Barney jingle to ask for a Barney video tape, or says “get your shoes and socks” to ask to go outside>) |
| ED | Emotionally Disturbed |
| EEG | Electroencephalogram – A test consisting of recording brainwaves as picked up by electrodes. It is used to identify seizures. It is also used to differentiate LKS from other disorders in people with autistic symptoms |
| EFA | Essential Fatty Acids (ex: omega3,6, 9… necessary for proper brain development) |
| EI | Early Intervention |
| ELAP | Early Learning Accomplishment Profile (evaluation tool) |
| EMF | Electro Magnetic Field (i.e., in computer monitors) |
| ESY | Extended School Year |
| FAPE | Free Appropriate Public Education |
| FAS | Fetal Alcohol Syndrome |
| FC | Facilitated Communication |
| FCT | Facilitated Communication Training |
| FDA | Food and Drug Administration |
| FEAT | Families for Early Autism Treatment (organization) |
| GARS | Gillam Autism Rating Scale |
| GF | Gluten-Free |
| GFCF | Gluten-Free/Casein-Free (Gluten is wheat/Casein is dairy) |
| GI | Gastrointestinal Tract |
| GSE | Grape Seed Extract (i.e., Kirkman Labs product) |
| HFA | High-Functioning Autism |
| Hyperlexia | The ability to read at an early age, sometimes without linking the words to what the words mean |
| Hypotonia | Low muscle tone |
| IBS | Irritable bowel syndrome |
| ICF | Immediate Care Facility |
| IDEA | Individuals with Disabilities Act – a US Law mandating the “Free and Public Education of all persons with disabilities between the ages of 3 and 21. |
| IEP | Individual Education Plan |
| IFSP | Individualized Family Service Plan |
| IgG | An antibody involved in Intravenous immunoglobulin |
| IGIV or IgiV | Intravenous immunoglobulin |
| Inclusion | Mainstreaming |
| IVIgG | Intravenous gamma globulin |
| IPP | Individual Program Plan |
| Ketogenic diet | Restricted diet used to prevent epileptic seizures |
| LSCSW | Licensed Clinical Social Worker |
| LD | Learning Disabled |
| LFA | Low-Functioning Autistic |
| LKS | Landau-Kleffner Syndrome |
| Lovaas | A type of behavioral therapy |
| LRE | Least Restrictive Environment |
| LSH | Language, Speech and Hearing Specialist |
| Mainstreaming | Placement of a disabled child with non-disabled peers in a regular classroom |
| MRI | Magnetic Resonance Imaging – A diagnostic tool in the sense of an X-ray machine or CAT Scanner which creates internal images of the selected body parts. Rather than sending X-rays through the body, it builds its image data by testing the magnetism of the body tissue. |
| MSDD | Multi-System Developmental Disorder – Stanley Greenspan’s term for an autistic-like set of symptoms |
| NAC | N-AACETYL-CYSTEINE |
| NDF | NDF is a chlorella-based product used for heavy metal and other sorts of detoxification. There are some stories of people having very bad reactions/side effects going this route and so if this one is selected, parents are advised to go slowly and follow directions closely. As with anything, check with your doctor first. |
| Neuroleptic | A class drug that included Haldol and Risperdal |
| NICHCY | National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities |
| NIMG | National Institutes for Mental Health |
| NIH | National Institute of Health (US Government agency) |
| NOS | Not Otherwise Specified |
| NT | Neurotypical (i.e., normal) |
| NVIC | National Vaccine Information Center |
| OCD | Obsessive Compulsive Disorder |
| OCR | Office of Civil Rights |
| Ocytocin | A neurotransmitter |
| ODD | Oppositional Defiant Disorder |
| OLE | Olive Leaf Extract |
| OT | Occupational Therapist |
| OTC | Over the Counter (non-prescription) |
| PANDAS | Pediatric Autoimmune Disorders Associated With Strep |
| PDD | Pervasive Development Disorder |
| PDD-NOS | Pervasive Development Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified |
| PECS | Picture Exchange Communication System |
| PEP | Psycho-Educational Profile |
| PEP-R | Psycho-Educational Profile Revised – a test designed to assess the presence of autism and point toward treatment strategies and some areas of need |
| Perseveration | Obsessive-like continued immediate repetition of behavior |
| Pica | Ingestion of nonfood items |
| PMA | Phenylmercuric Acetate (contains mercury; used in a lot of everyday products) |
| PMN | Phenylmercuric Nitrate (contains mercury; used in a lot of everyday products) |
| PRT | Pivotal Response Training |
| PT | Physical Therapy |
| RDH | Registered Dental Hygienist |
| Rx | Prescription Medication |
| SAS | Specialized Autism Services |
| Secretin | A hormone used to diagnose digestive problems |
| Sensorimotor | Pertaining to brain activity other than automatic functions (respiration, circulation, sleep) or cognition. Sensorimotor activity includes voluntary movement and senses like sight, touch and hearing. |
| Serotonin | A neurotransmitter (i.e., brain chemical) that plays a part in communication within the nervous system. |
| S/L | Speech/Language |
| SI | Sensory Integration |
| SIB | Self-Injurious Behavior |
| SLP | Speech Language Pathologist |
| SIT | Sensory Integration Therapy |
| SSI-DC | Supplemental Security Income-Disabled Child |
| SSRI | Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (These include Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft etc. Consult with your doctor before using GFSE if on any medication!) |
| STIM | short for “self-stimulation”, a term for behaviors whose sole purpose appears to be to stimulate ones own senses. |
| TEACCH | Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication of Handicapped Children |
| TOM | Theory of Mind |
| TS | Tourette Syndrome |
| VOICE | Vaccination Options Information Coalition Education (US Autism Ambassador’s Vaccine Info Site) |
