E
Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention - A highly structured and intense intervention in which a child is taught a range of skills by a team of therapists.
Echolalia - Repeating words or sounds, usually over and over, without necessarily understanding their meaning.
EDTA (Ethylene-Diamine-Tetra-Acetic Acid) - A synthetic solution used as a chelating agent to remove heavy metals from the body.
EEG Biofeedback Therapy - Range of therapies in which individuals are taught to control their own physiological functions such as heart rate, muscle tension, and brain waves
EFA’s (Essential Fatty Acids) - Polyunsaturated fatty acids that cannot be created within the human body and must therefore be obtained from the diet.
Elective Mutism - Condition in which children talk in one situation, for example, at home, but remain silent elsewhere, eg, at school.
Encephalitis - Inflammation (swelling) of the brain tissue. It is caused either by infection, usually viral, or by an autoimmune disease. If it is severe it can cause brain damage.
Enteric-coated - A coating that prevents a tablet or capsule from being digested until it reaches the small intestine.
Enuresis - Bedwetting
Environmental Modification - Process of designing or modifying a local environment (a room or building) to meet the needs of a specific individual.
Enzymes - Specific protein catalysts produced by the cells that are crucial in chemical reactions and in building up or synthesizing most compounds in the body. Each enzyme performs a specific function without itself being consumed. For example, the digestive enzyme amylase acts on carbohydrates in foods to break them down.
Enzyme Potentiated Desensitization - Form of allergy or immunotherapy treatment which uses extremely small doses of allergens to desensitize people to their allergies.
Enzyme Therapies - A wide range of therapies which use enzymes (proteins) that catalyse (accelerate) chemical reactions in the body.
EPA - Acronym for eicosapentaenoic acid, a type of omega 3 fatty acid ingested in some foodstuffs such as fish oil.
Epidemiology - The study of factors affecting the health and illness of populations.
Epilepsy- A brain disorder involving recurrent seizures.
Epsom Salts (Magnesium Sulphate) - Epsom Salts are sometimes used in the form of bath salts to promote perspiration and draw acidic wastes mainly uric acid through the pores of the skin
Equine Therapy - Group of therapies that involves a person with autism or other disability interacting with horses in one way or another.
Etiology - The science that deals with the causes or origin of disease, the factors which produce or predispose toward a certain disease or disorder
Expressive Language Delay - Occurs when an individual has problems expressing him or herself using spoken language.
F
Facilitated Communication - Intervention designed to help people with limited communication develop their pointing skills.
Fast Forward ® - Set of interactive computerized language-learning programs designed to develop and strengthen memory, attention, processing rate, and sequencing.
Feingold Diet/Program - Diet which requires the individual to avoid some additives – such as synthetic colorings, flavorings, and preservatives – as well as salicylate – a natural plant toxin found in some foodstuffs and medicines.
Fine Motor Skills - Skill relating to movement of a small part of the body. For example, the skill required to hold a pencil between the fingers and thumb.
Floortime - The main strategy used in the DIR method. ‘Floortime’ exercises allow the carer to take an active, developmental role in spontaneous and fun activities that are directed by the child’s interests and actions.
Fragile X Syndrome - Inherited condition in which a defect in one gene on the X Chromosome may cause a learning disability and, sometimes, symptoms of autism.
G
Gastrointestinal - The stomach and other parts of the digestive system. Many people with autism spectrum disorders are reported to have significant GI problems.
Gilliam Autism Rating Scale (GARS) - Measure designed to identify and diagnose autism in individuals and to estimate the severity of the problem.
Giardiasis (Giardia) - An intestinal tract infection caused by Giardia lamblia, a flagellate protozoa now common to much of the world.
GLA (Gamma Linolenic Acid) - an omega-6 fatty acid found in some plants, such as Borage and Evening Primrose
Glutamate – A salt or ester of glutamic acid, especially one that functions as a neurotransmitter that excites cells of the central nervous system.
Glutathione - Antioxidant which is supposed to protect cells from toxins such as free radicals
Gluten - Protein found in cereals such as wheat, barley and rye.
Gluten Free Diet (GF Diet) - Diet which avoids or reduces foods which contain gluten, a protein found in some cereals.
GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) - These are man altered bacterias used as pesticides.
Glycemic Index - Ranking system for carbohydrates based on their immediate effect on blood glucose levels.
Glyconutrients - A form of monosaccharide sugars.
Gross Motor Skill - Skill relating to movement of the body as a whole or the limbs. For example, the skill required to stand upright.
H
H2 Blockers - Medications in this family sharply decrease stomach acid production. They are widely used for the treatment of ulcers as well as for mild cases of esophageal reflux (heartburn). Drugs that fall into this family include cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB); famotidine (Pepcid, Pepcid AC, Pepcid RPD); nizatidine (Axid, Axid AR); ranitidine hydrochloride (Zantac, Zantac EFFERdose, Zantac GELdose, Zantac 75).
Herbal Products - Herbs used as botanicals, which are plants or plant parts valued for their medicinal or therapeutic properties, flavor, and/or scent.
Hemisphere Specific Auditory Stimulation ( Johansen Sound Therapy) - A form of auditory integration training, which is an intervention in which a person with autism listens to a selection of music which has been modified.
High-Functioning Autism (HFA) - Term used to refer to those on the autism spectrum who suffer less impairment due to their disability compared to others. Sometimes HFA has been equated with Asperger’s Syndrome; other times, it has been used to distinguish a person who is autistic and high functioning, but who had a speech or cognitive delay, from someone with Asperger’s (who would, by definition, not have had a speech or cognitive delay).
Hippotherapy - The use of horses as a therapeutic tool to help people with special needs.
Holding Therapy - form of attachment therapy, which consists of forced holding by a therapist or parent until the child stops resisting or until a fixed time period has elapsed
Homeopathy - Therapy which involves giving extremely small doses of substances that produce characteristic symptoms of illness in healthy people when given in larger doses. This approach is called “like cures like.”
Hyperactivity - Condition characterized by overactive, poorly controlled behavior and lack of concentration, most frequently seen in children.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) - The medical use of oxygen at a higher than atmospheric pressure.
Hyperlexia - Condition in which the main characteristics are an above normal ability to read accompanied with a below normal ability to understand spoken language.
Hypersensitivity - Abnormal immunological reaction produced in certain individuals when re-exposed to antigens that are innocuous to other individuals. More common in people with autism.
Hypocalcemia - Condition in which there is not enough calcium in the blood.
Hypotonia - Low muscle tone
Sources: Canadian Autism Intervention Research Network
http://www.iancommunity.org/
