I
Idiopathic - Term used when the cause of a disease or disorder is unknown.
IEP (Individualized Education Program) - A legal document that defines a child's special education program. An IEP includes the disability under which the child qualifies for Special Education Services, the services the team has determined the school will provide, his yearly goals and objectives and any accommodations that must be made to assist his learning.
Immune Globulin - Protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects like bacteria and viruses.
Immunotherapies - Group of interventions which are designed to make the immune system work more effectively.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) - Chronic inflammatory diseases that may occur in any part of the gut.
Infrared Sauna - Treatment which uses infrared radiation to increase circulation and nourish damaged tissue.
Integrated Movement Therapy ™ - An individual and group therapy approach that combines speech-language pathology, behavioral and mental health counseling, and yoga.
Integrative Medicine - The use of conventional and complementary medicine alongside one another.
Interactive Metronome - Therapy in which the individual synchronizes a range of hand and foot exercises to a computer-generated tone heard through headphones.
Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) - a protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects like bacteria and viruses.
J
Joint Attention - the process by which an infant learns to recognize the direction of an adult’s gaze, orient their own gaze to follow it, and then look in the same direction.
K
Kanner’s Syndrome - It is also known as autistic disorder, childhood autism, early infantile autism, or infantile psychosis.
Ketogenic Diet - A high fat, adequate protein, low carbohydrate diet designed to mimic many of the biochemical changes associated with prolonged starvation.
Ketosis - Metabolic state which occurs when the liver converts fat into fatty acids and ketone bodies which can be used by the body for energy.
L
Lactoferrin - Iron chelating compounds
Landau-Kleffner - A disorder with seizures starting in childhood in which the patient loses skills, such as speech, and develops behavior characteristic of autism.
Language Acquisition through Motor Planning (LAMP) - Program of clinical strategies developed for implementing Alternative and Augmentative Communication with individuals who have autism.
Leaky Gut - Leaky gut describes damages on intestinal membrane. The damages can cause mal-absorption of nutrition, food intolerance and food allergies and leakage of toxins into the body.
Least Restrictive Environment - This concept refers to the federal mandate that children with disabilities be educated with peers without disabilities to the maximum extent appropriate.
Light Therapies - Group of therapies which use light in one form or another.
Lightwave Stimulation - Therapy that involves stimulating the retina with appropriately colored lights.
Lipase - An enzyme secreted by the pancreas to assist in fat breakdown.
Lipids - Fat-soluble substances derived from animal or vegetable cells by nonpolar solvents (e.g. ether); the term can include the following types of materials: fatty acids, glycerides, phospholipids, alcohols and waxes.
Listening Program- Audio-based therapy, in which an individual listens to musical CDs.
Liver - The largest and one of the most complex organs of the body, the liver is responsible for much of the metabolism of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. It is the site of much of the body's detoxification. It is connected very closely with digestion and the regulation of blood sugar, among many other functions. It has many important functions such as removing harmful material from the blood, making enzymes and bile that help digest food, and converting food into substances needed for life and growth. Hepatic: Pertaining to the liver.
Lovass Method - An early form of early intensive behavioral intervention invented by Dr. I. Lovaas, which follows the principles of applied behavioral analysis.
Low-Functioning Autism - Term used to refer to those on the autism spectrum who suffer relatively more impairment compared to others.
Low Oxalate Diet - Diet which avoids or eliminates oxalates, crystals found in many plants where they concentrate light and boost photosynthesis.
Low Salicylate Diet - Diet which avoids or eliminates salicylate, a plant hormone found in leafy vegetables and fruit
Sources: Canadian Autism Intervention Research Network
http://www.iancommunity.org/
