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Benefits of Music Therapy
For Autism
Glossary and Acronym List
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The Benefits Of Music Therapy For Autism
A professional who specializes in autism can suggest different treatment for autistics that can have a significant positive effect on their behavior. One such treatment is Music therapy.
Music therapy is a controlled music experience that is used to facilitate positive change in human behavior. Each session of music therapy is carefully planned, carried out, and evaluated to suit the specific needs of each patient. Music therapy can include any of the following musical activities:
- Listening to music and/or musical creation
- Playing musical instruments (any instrument can be used)
- Moving to music
- Singing
As far as autism is concerned, studies have shown that music therapy has a significant, positive influence when used to treat autistic individuals. Participating in music therapy allows autistics the opportunity to experience non-threatening outside stimulation, as they don't engage in direct human contact.
As was previously mentioned, music therapy is made specific to each individual. This is extremely important, because what may be positively received by one autistic may be negative to another. That being said, let's take a look at the positive influence music therapy has had on autistic individuals.
Music therapy
Improved socioemotional development: In the first steps of a relationship, autistics tend to physically ignore or reject the attempts of social contact made by others. Music therapy helps to stop this social withdrawal by an initial object relation with a musical instrument. Instead of seeing the instrument as threatening, autistic children are usually fascinated by the shape, feel and sound of it. Therefore, the musical instrument provides an initial point of contact between the autistic and the other individual by acting as an intermediary.
Assisted in both verbal and nonverbal communication - When music therapy is used to aid in communication, its goal is to improve the production of vocalization and speech, as well as stimulate the mental process of comprehending, conceptualizing and symbolizing. A music therapist will attempt to establish a communicative relationship between the behavior of a child with autism and a specific sound. An autistic person may have an easier time recognizing or being more open to these sounds than they would to a verbal approach. This musical awareness, and the relationship between the autistics' actions and the music, has potential to encourage communication.
Another form of music therapy that may help with communication is to play a wind instrument (IE flute). It is thought that by playing such an instrument, you become aware of the functioning of your teeth, jaws, lips and tongue. Thus, playing a wind instrument almost mirrors the functioning required in order to produce speech vocalizations.
Encouraged emotional fulfillment - Most autistics lack the ability to effectively respond to stimuli that would otherwise allow them to enjoy an appropriate emotional charge. Thus, since most autistics respond well to music stimuli, music therapy has been able to provide autistics with an environment that is free of fear, stimuli considered threatening, etc.
During a music therapy session, an autistic individual has the freedom to behave in specific ways that allow them to discover and express themselves when they want and choose. They can make noise, bang instruments, shout and express and experience the pleasure of emotional satisfaction.
Musical therapy has also helped autistic individuals by:
- Teaching social skills
- Improving language comprehension
- Encouraging the desire to communicate
- Making creative-self expression possible
- Reducing non-communicative speech
- Decreasing echolalia (uncontrolled and instant repetition of the words spoken by another)
Keep in mind that although music therapy can have positive effects on autistic individuals, it is vital that an autistic receives such treatment from a trained and experienced musical therapist.
Autism Terms and Glossary
Abnormal Behavior - A general term referring to behavior that is unusual to the degree that it exceeds the boundaries of what society views as normal.
Abstract Intelligence/Reasoning - The intellectual ability to understand relationships and to react, not only to concrete objects, but also to concepts, ideas, images, and symbols that are more intangible objects. Abstraction is the process of selecting or isolating a certain aspect from a concrete whole, i.e. all ducks are birds, but not all birds are ducks.
Adaptive Behavior Scale (ABS) - Used as an assessment tool.
Advocacy - The process of actively speaking out, writing in favor of, supporting, and/or acting on behalf of oneself, another person, or a cause. Advocacy can be any action to assure the best possible services for or intervention in the service system on behalf of an individual or group.
Age Appropriate - Activities, materials, curriculum, and environment consistent with the chronological age of the child being served.
Anxiety - Apprehension, tension or uneasiness that stems from the anticipation of danger which may be internal or external. Some definitions of anxiety distinguish it from fear by limiting it to the anticipation of danger from a largely unknown source, whereas fear is the response to a consciously recognized and usually external threat or danger.
Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) - is a style of teaching which uses a series of trials to shape a desired behaviour or response. Skills are broken down to their simplest components and taught through a system of reinforcement. Prompts are given as needed when the child is learning a skill. As a skill is mastered the prompts are faded until the child can perform the task independently. It is a step-by step approach, complete with curriculum, that teaches: attention, language, self-help, play, motor and social skills. It is a data based program in which the child's progress is documented. This documentation is reviewed daily.
Asperger's Syndrome - People with Asperger's Syndrome appear to demonstrate normal cognitive and language development ( though the onset of speech may be slightly delayed). They are less obviously socially impaired than children with autism, and may develop relationships with parents and other family members. It is with peers that the qualitative impairments in reciprocal social interaction become most apparent. They may also have unusual or elaborate preoccupations with objects or topics.
Asperger's Syndrome Diagnostic Criteria - A) Qualitative impairment in social interaction; B) Restricted and repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviour, interests and activities; C) Causes clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning; D) There is no clinically significant general delay in language; E) There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive behaviour and curiosity about the environment in childhood; F) Criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia.
Assessment - A collecting and bringing together of information about a child's learning needs, which may include social, psychological, and educational evaluations used to determine assignment to special programs or services; a process using observation, testing and test analysis to determine an individual's strengths and weaknesses to plan, for example, his or her educational services.
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) - A condition characterized by when a person is easily distracted and has difficulty staying focused on an individual activity for any period of time. ADD affects 3-5% of all students.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - A condition in which a child exhibits signs of developmentally inappropriate hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention. These characteristics are usually present before the age of 7.
Auditory Training - About 40 percent of autistic children are reported to show very sensitive hearing. Auditory training is training to overcome the hypersensitivity. Use of electronic devices to modulate sounds in such a way that hypersensitive hearing and certain other hearing problems, can be remedied.
Augmentative Communication - Any approach designed to support, enhance, or supplement the communication of individuals who are not independent verbal communicators in all situations.
Autism - is a severely incapacitating life long developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life. The result of a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) - is a congenital developmental disorder that is characterized by problems in three areas: social development, communication and stereotypic behaviours. It encompasses a number of disorders including Autism, Retts Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder and Aspergers Syndrome.
Basic -Skills Approach - Pertaining to instruction that lays the ground work for further development and higher levels of functioning.
Behavior Checklist - Objective protocols that permit an observer to count or check for the existence or absence of a given behavior or set of behaviors through direct observation of the individual being evaluated.
Behaviour Management - To develop, strengthen, maintain, decrease or eliminate behaviors in a planned or systematic way.
Behavior Modification - A technique of changing human behavior based on the theory of operant behavior and conditioning. Careful observation of events preceding and following the behavior in question is required. The environment is manipulated to reinforce the desired responses, thereby bringing about the desired change in behavior.
Case Management - A service that assists persons to obtain and coordinate community resources such as income assistance, education, housing, medical care, treatment, vocational preparation, and recreation.
Checklist for Autism in Toddlers - diagnostic tool.
Childhood Autism Rating Scale - diagnostic tool.
Childhood Disintegrative Disorder - Development in persons with this disorder proceeds normally for several years, with age-appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication, social skills, play, etc. There is a subsequent ( after 2 years of age and before 10 years) marked regression in skills in multiple areas, and the development of various autistic-like features. This disorder is also sometimes referred to as Heller's Syndrome.
Child Psychiatrist - A physician (MD) specializing in mental, emotional, or behavior disorders in children and adolescents. Qualified to prescribe medications.
Child Psychologist - A mental health professional with a Ph.D. in psychology who administers tests, evaluates and treats children's emotional disorders. Cannot prescribe medication.
Clinical Social Worker - A mental health professional trained to provide services to individuals, families and groups.
Communicative Partner - One of the two trainers in PECS. This person sits across from the child and draws the child's attention to the initial training item.
Communication Skills - Consciously linking the meaning and the purpose of what (we say) is said to what is (we do) done.
Community Supports - Providing activities, services, supports, and other assistance to persons with developmental disabilities, and the families and communities of such persons, which are designed to a. assist neighbourhoods and communities to be more responsive to the needs of persons with developmental disabilities and their families, b) develop local networks which can provide informal support, and c) make communities accessible and enable communities to offer their resources and opportunities to persons with developmental disabilities and their families. Community supports includes community education, personal assistance services, vehicular and home modifications, support at work, and transportation.
Developmental Disability - When applied to infants and young children it means: Individuals from birth to age 5 who have substantial developmental delay or specific congenital or acquired conditions with a high probability of resulting in developmental disabilities if services are not provided. For persons 5 years of age or older it means: A sever, chronic disability which is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments; and is manifested before the person attains age twenty-two and is likely to continue indefinitely and results in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the following areas of major life activity: self care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility. Self-direction, capacity for independent living and economic self-sufficiency; and reflects the person's need for a combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary, or generic care, treatment or other services which are of lifelong or extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated.
Developmental Tests - Standardized tests that measure a child's development as it compares to the development of all other children at that age.
Diagnostic Criteria for Autistic Disorder - 1. Qualitative impairment in social interaction; 2. Qualitative impairments in communication; 3. Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviour, interests, and activities; 4. Delays or abnormal functioning in at least one of the following areas, with onset prior to age 3: a) social interaction; b) language as used in social communication; c) symbolic or imaginative play; 5. The disturbance is not better accounted for by Rett's Disorder or Childhood Disintegrative Disorder; 6.The disturbance is not better accounted for by another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder.
Diagnostic Criteria for Asperger's Disorder - 1. Qualitative impairment in social interactions; 2. Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviour, interests and activities; 3. The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning; 4. There is no clinically significant general delay in language; 5. There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive behaviour 6. Criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder or schizophrenia.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) - is published by the American Psychiatric Association. The DSM is the diagnostic system most often used by North American clinicians.
Echolalia - The repetition or parroting of words or phrases.
Facilitated Communication - is a method whereby a person with autism is able to point to letters or type out letters on a keyboard or electronic device or computer - provided the person with autism receives the support of the touch of another person or "facilitator" on wrist, elbow or shoulder. The elements of facilitated communication are: physical support; progressing from initial training to practice and finally to fluency; maintaining focus; emotional support; and fading physical support.
Family Centered/Focus Model - Providing intervention services for children with special needs within the context of the family for the purpose of enhancing the child's developmental outcomes. It recognizes that the family is the constant in a child's life and that service systems and personnel must support, respect, encourage, and enhance the strength and competence of the family. Staff members and service providers must have the ability to concentrate or center on the needs of the family and those of the chid, rather than the needs of an agency, program or service system.
Family Support Program/Services - Services, supports, and other assistance to families in providing care for their children or adult members with developmental disabilities so they can remain in the home. These services are designed to strengthen the family's role as primary caregiver, prevent inappropriate out of the home placement and maintain family unity, and reunite families with members who have been placed out of the home. The services include respite care, assistive, technology, personal assistance, parent training and counselling, support for elderly parents, vehicular and home modifications, and assistance with extraordinary expenses associated with the needs of the person with a developmental disability.
Fenfluramine - is an anorexigenic agent (appetite suppressant) that markedly decreases brain serotonin. Studies have shown 30-40 percent of autistic people have high levels of serotonin, one of the substances which help transmit impulses between brain cells. One case study in 1982 suggested that Fenfluramine significantly improved behaviour (Geller, Ritvo, Freeman, & Yuweiler, 1982). Further studies are conflicting, and most do not support this theory.
Fine Motor - The use of small muscle groups for controlled movements, particularly in object manipulation.
Geneva Centre - a centre in Toronto which offers resource and consultation services regarding autism and related disorders. They offer public information on treatment approaches, services, literature and current research. They also have a computerized resource library of current information.
Gentle Teaching - This is a totally non-aversive therapy emphasizing bonding between teacher and student. Developed by John McGee, he contends that persons who persistently hit, bite , kick, scratch, self-stimulate, or withdraw have not bonded with their caregivers and that teachers must help move behaviourally-involved persons from a state of emotional distancing to one of meaningful human engagement so that they will find it unnecessary to express their needs through primitive or harmful responses.
Gross Motor - Movement that involves balance, coordination and large muscle activity.
Inclusion - The process of taking children out of segregated settings and placing them in regular education classrooms with supports.
Individualized Educational Program (IEP) - A written education plan for a school aged child with disabilities developed by a team of professionals and the child's parents. IEP's are based on a multidisciplinary evaluation of the child, describes how the child is presently doing, what the child's learning needs are, and what services the child will need. They are reviewed and updated yearly.
Infant/developmental Stimulation - Early intervention procedures that emphasize providing an infant with an array of visual, auditory, and physical stimuli to promote development.
Interdisciplinary Team - A team whose members come from multiple disciplines, who interact and rely on the others for information and suggestions.
Landau-Kleffner Syndrome (LKS) - A rare disorder marked by sudden loss of language between the ages of 3-7, after a period of normal development. Individuals with LKS are also characterized by an abnormal EEG.
Mainstreaming - Placement of a child in a class room with non-disabled peers versus a separate classroom.
Manipulatives - Toys that children use their hands to play with.
Naltrexone - This drug blocks brain cell receptors for opioids, natural opium-like substances produced by the body which may be abnormally high in autism. In a series of studies on this drug, the self-injury and social withdrawal of autistic persons was reduced significantly (Walters, Barrett, Feinstein, Mercurio, & Hole, 1990). Some investigators have found children on naltrexone had better eye contact and social behaviour as well as less aggression and stereotypical behaviours. Also see opioid related theories.
Occupational Therapy - A therapy, treatment, or instructional support provided by an occupational therapist to the child, family, and/or pertinent members of the child's environment. Occupational therapy helps develop adaptive or physical skills that will aid in daily living and improve interactions with pa person's physical and social world.
Opioid Related Theories - There are several opioid related theories: a) that high opioid levels prevent self-injury from being painful to the individual with autism; b) that, when an autistic person becomes upset or aroused, self-injury causes the release of opioids which calm the individual; and c) that individuals with autism may actually be addicted to their own opioids, and injure themselves in order to raise their bodies' levels of these substances. Also, high opioid levels may make hugging and other physical contact less rewarding to autistic person than to normal persons.
Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) - is used as a non-specific, generic term referring to a group of related disorders which share certain essential features: qualitative impairments in both verbal and non-verbal communication, difficulty with reciprocal social interaction and a restricted stereotypic pattern of behaviours. The most well known example of PDD is autism.
Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD NOS) - This category is used when there are impairments across all three areas of characteristics for autism, but the number of characteristics needed to meet criteria for other types of PDD are not met. In some children it is very difficult to distinguish the subtle differences between Autism and PDD NOS.
Physical Prompter - One of the two trainers used in PECS. This person physically assists the child to engage in communicative behavior.
Physical Therapy - Instructional support and treatment of physical disabilities provided by a trained physical therapist, under a doctor's prescription, that helps a person improve the use of bones, muscles, joints, and nerves.
Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) - was developed at the Delaware Autistic Program. Training in PECS Begins by finding out what things a child is attracted to. After the adult knows what a child wants by having watched the child, a picture is made of the object. The picture is then paired with the real item. Physical help is given to pick up the picture and is slowly dropped over time. The process is then expanded to make sentences with the pictures. PECS has six phases: 1) requesting items or routines by physically assisting the picture exchange; 2) expanding spontaneous use of the picture exchange; 3) Discriminating between pictures; 4) Building Sentence Structure; 5)Responding to verbal questions/prompts such as " What do you want?"; 6) Commenting about a question. Two trainers are used to develop spontaneous communication: communicative partner and a physical prompter.
Rage Behaviour - is a violently explosive, episodic, often target less outburst, usually without adequate antecedent triggering factors (causes).
Rett Disorder - Rett is a condition found only in females who have apparently normal pre and perinatal development, with onset of symptoms after 5 months of age. These include decelerated head growth, loss of purposeful hand movements, and development of psychomotor retardation.
Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome (Irlen Syndrome) - is a perceptual dysfunction affecting principally reading and writing based activities. It is caused by a sensitivity to light rather than visual problems.
Secretin - a gut hormone that has been used in controversial treatment of autism. There is no scientific proof that it works for Autism. Dr. Wendy Roberts at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto is starting a study on the drug.
Sensory Integration - is a theory of therapeutic intervention developed by Dr. A. Jean Ayres, Ph.D., an occupational therapist from the University of Southern California.
Sensory Integration Theory - The sensory integration theory of the relationship of brain function and behaviour is based on consideration of three important postulates: a) Learning is dependent on the ability of the child to take in sensory information from the environment and from his body movements, to process and integrate this sensory input within his central nervous system and to use this sensory information to plan and organize behaviour; 2) If the child has deficits in processing and integrating sensory input, conceptual and motor learning suffer from loss of the ability to plan and act on productive behaviour; 3) Conceptual and motor learning will be enhanced by providing repeated opportunities for expanded sensory intake. Meaningful activities promote planning and organizing of adaptive behaviour by improving the planning and organizing of adaptive behaviour by improving the ability of the child's central nervous system to process and integrate sensory input.
Speech/Language Therapy - A planned program to improve and correct speech and/or language or communication problems in people who are not thought to be able to improve without such help.
Stimming - The informal term for self-stimulation.
Structured Methods in Language Education (SMILE) - is divided into five modules which progress from attending, imitation of motor skills, production of single sounds, and combining sounds to using a series of sounds which are associated with a word. Vocabulary is expanded to where the student can independently read and write a short story. In this method, skills of listening, sound production, reading and writing are taught in combination.
Tactile Defensiveness (hypersensitivity to touch) - An individual with tactile defensiveness appears to overreact to sensation that most people do not particularly notice, or at least not bothered by. Common signs of tactile defensiveness include: sensitivity to certain types of clothes or fabrics; preference or aversion to foods which seems texture related; avoidance of touching substances such as finger paint or mud, or of getting one's hands messy; avoidance of walking barefoot on particular surfaces such as sand or grass; a greater than normal resistance to having teeth brushed, hair combed or face washed; and a tendency to prefer to touch rather than be touched, especially when the touching is unexpected.
Task Demonstration Model (TDM) - In this model trainers present many examples of both correct and incorrect items while gradually increasing their similarity thus forcing the student to make finer and finer discriminations.
Transition - The process of bridging the time and environments between two settings, programs, or life situations.
ACRONYMS
| AAPEP |
related to "PEP", see below |
| AAC |
"Assistive Augmentative Communication"
A speech-language therapists' term for communication using a picture board or recorded messages activated by buttons, etc. |
| ABA |
"Applied Behavior Analysis"
Acronym in common use by adherents of some behavioral techniques to refer to a kind of careful analysis and tracking of behavior including its cues and consequences. |
| ABC |
"Applied Behavior Consultants"
Organization centered in Sacramento sometimes discussed on the AUTISM mailing list. |
| ABC |
"Autism Behavior Checklist"
Diagnostic device for autism. |
| AC |
"Autistics and cousins"
people with autism and those who may not be formally diagnosed but may have some elements of atypical thinking. As far as I know, this usage is confined to the Autism list. |
| ADA |
"Americans with Disabilities Act"
USA law that ensures rights of persons with disabilities with regard to employment and other issues. |
| Adaptive PE |
"Adaptive Physical Education" |
| ADD |
"Attention Deficit Disorder" |
| ADHD |
"Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder" |
| ADI |
"Autism Diagnostic Interview"
a diagnostic scale for autism being developed by the Medical Research Council in London. Fairly technical: more precise than CARS. |
| ADOS |
"Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale"
(or "Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule") Fairly technical test. |
| AGRE |
"Autism Genetic Resource Exchange"
Program run by CAN foundation to collect & review DNA samples. |
| AIA Network |
"Autism, Intolerance & Allergy Network" |
| AIT |
"Auditory Integration Training" |
| ASLA |
"Autism Society of America, Los Angeles Chapter"
They hold an annual conference often referred to as the ASLA conference. |
| Analog condition |
Term for some behavioral methods such as the Lovaas method used by developers of the Natural Language Paradigm. |
| ANC |
"Autism National Committee" |
| ANDI |
"Autism Network for Dietary Intervention" |
| 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. e.g., he may have the ability to raise his arm and to wave his hand, but not when he consciously intends 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"). |
| apraxia of speech |
see definition of "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" |
| ASA |
"Autism Society of America" |
| ASD |
"Autistic Spectrum Disorders" (see below) |
| ASL |
"American Sign Language" |
| atypical autism |
A general term for conditions that are close to but don't quite fit the set of conditions or autism or other specific conditions. |
| AUTCOM |
"Autism National Committee" |
| Autistic savant |
an autistic individual who displays incredible aptitude for one or two skills. |
| Autistic Spectrum Disorders |
Term that encompasses autism and similiar disorders. More specifically, the following five disorders listed in DSM-IV: Autistic Disorder, Aspergers Disorder, PDD-NOS, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and Retts Disorder. |
| Aversives |
Behavioral methods employing punishment rather than positive reinforcement. Often use physical pain. |
| BRI |
"Behavioral Research Institute" see JRC. |
| CAN |
"Cure Autism Now" |
| 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, than ranges are considered to be non-autistic, autistic, and severely autistic. |
| CBCL |
"Achenbach Childhood Behavior Checklist"
diagnostic device. |
| CDC |
"Center for Disease Control"
US Government agency. |
| CF or c/f |
"casein free" |
| CFF |
"Community Care Facility" |
| CHAT |
"Checklist for Autism in Toddlers"
A checklist to by used by General Practitioners at 18 months to see if a child has Autism. Described in Baron-Cohen S; Allen J; Gillberg C. "Can autism be detected at 18 months? The needle, the haystack, and the CHAT." British Journal of Psychiatry, 1992 Dec, 161:839-43. (UI: 93130306) |
| chat |
On the autism and other mailing lists, the Internet term "chat" is used to refer to Internet chatting, i.e. using software that allows you to hold online conversations by typing sentences that will be read by a group. |
| 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. |
| Cluster |
Used to label an unusually large number of occurrances 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. In early 1999, an autism cluster was reported in the Brick Township of New Jersey. |
| DAN |
"Defeat Autism Now"
Also "DAN!". |
| DAN Doctor |
Also "DAN! Doctor". A physician who subscribes to the DAN protocol and attended a DAN Conference. |
| DAN Protocol |
Also "DAN! Protocol". A protocol for the assessment of the underlying disorders that is causing the autism. It is the result of the DAN conferences. |
| DAS |
"Developmental Apraxia of Speech" |
| DD |
"Developmental Disabilities" |
| DH |
"Developmentally Handicapped" |
| Discrete Trial Methods |
term used for some behavioral methods, e.g. the Lovaas Method |
| DSS |
"Department of Social Services" |
| DTT |
"Discrete Trial Training"
(Note: I've also seen it refered to as "Discrete Trial Therapy" and "Discrete Trial Teaching") I've seen the term applied to Lovaas's ABA-based method for treating autistic children, and I've seen it used as a term for the "drilling" aspect of ABA. The term is also often used in a less specific way, as a synonym for ABA. |
| DMAE |
"dimethyl aminoethanol" karyoke karoke kareoke |
| DMG |
"dimethylglycine" |
| DSM-III, DSM-III-R, & DSM-IV |
"Diagnostic and Statistical Manual" |
| DTT |
"Discrete Trial Training" |
| DVD |
"Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia" |
| Dyspraxia |
Term for a neurological symptom: a problem with "praxis", i.e. planning, initiating, sequencing, and carrying out volitional movements. I think "dyspraxia" and "apraxia" mean the same thing, having been coined in different professional circles. See the variants of apraxia and dyspraxia. |
| EAHCA |
"The Education for All Handicapped Children Act
See "Public Law 94-142". |
| 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, for example, a child who sings the Barney jingle to ask for a Barney videotape, or says "Get your shoes and socks" to ask to go outside. |
| 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 with autistic symtoms. |
| ELAP |
"Early Learning Accomplishment Profile"
evaluation checklist for children used by some professionals (Cost $325 from Kaplan Catalog at 1-800-334-2014). |
| EFA |
"Essential Fatty Acid" |
| Face Blindness |
See "Prosopagnosia" |
| FAPE |
"Free and Appropriate Education" |
| FC or F/C |
"Facilitated Communication" |
| FCT |
"Facilitated Communication Training"
A variant of the term "Facilitated Communiction" |
| FEAT |
"Families for Early Autism Treatment"
See "Organization". |
| GARS |
"Gilliam Autism Rating Scale" |
| GF or g/f |
"gluten free" |
| HFA |
"High-functioning Autistic" or "High-functioning Autism" |
| Higashi |
USA Higashi is a school for autistic children located in Boston. I believe it is modeled after a similar school in Japan. |
| Hyperlexyia |
Ability to read at an early age, but often without linking the words to what they words mean. |
| Hypotonia |
Low muscle tone. |
| ICD-10 |
International Classification of Diseases 10th Edition |
| ICF |
"Intermediate Care Facility" |
| IDEA |
"Individuals with Disabilities Act"
A US Law mandating the "Free and Public Education" a.k.a. FAPE of all persons with disabilities between the ages of 3 and 21. |
| IEP |
"Individualized Educational Plan" |
| IFSP |
"Individualized Family Service Plan" |
| IHP |
"Individualized Habilitation Program" |
| IgG |
An antibody involved in intraveneous immunoglobulin |
| IGIV or IgIV |
"intravenous immunoglobulin" |
| IVIG |
Same as IGIV. |
| IVIgG |
"intravenous gamma globulin" |
| IMHO |
"In My Humble Opinion"
this abbreviation is sometimes used on the Autism mailing list just as it is used on lots of lists and newsgroups. |
| Inclusion |
see "Mainstreaming" |
| IPP |
"Individual Program Plan" |
| IRC |
"Internet Relay Chat"
the term has nothing to do with autism per se, but refers to an Internet service to allow people to type messages to each other. The term is used on the AUTISM mailing list to refer to the IRC regular discussions on the subject of Autism. |
| JRC |
"Judge Rotenberg Center"
a facility in Providence RI run by Matthew Israel, a follower of B.F. Skinner. Extremely controversial due to its use of aversives (electro shock device, ammonia water sprays in face etc.) for self injurious behaviors and noncompliance. The state of Massachusetts has been unable to close it, despite the death of a resident during the administration of a punishment. It was profiled in a television documentary on Connie Chung's _Eye to Eye_ which included footage taken by a hidden camera of various punishments being administered to residents. The JRC was formerly called the Behavioral Research Institute (BRI). |
| Ketogenic diet |
restricted diet used to prevent epileptic seizures. |
| LCSW |
"Licensed Clinical Social Worker" |
| LD |
"Learning Disabled" |
| LFA |
"Low-functioning Autistic" or "Low-functioning Autism" |
| LKS |
"Landau-Kleffner Syndrome" |
| Lovaas |
see "Behavioral Therapy" above |
| LRE |
"Least Restrictive Environment" |
| LSH |
"Language, Speech and Hearing Specialist" |
| Mainstreaming |
Placement of a disabled child with non-disabled peers in a regular classroom. |
| MEG |
type of EEG |
| MR |
"Mentally Retarded" or "Mental Retardation" |
| MRI |
"Magnetic Resonance Imaging"
A diagnostic tool in the sense of an X-ray machine or Cat scanner, which like them, creates internal images of the selected parts of the body. Rather than sending X-rays through the body, it builds its image data by testing the magnetism of the body tissue. |
| MSDD |
"MultiSystem Developmental Disorder"
Stanley Greenspan's term for an autistic-like set of symptoms. |
| NAS |
"National Autistic Society" |
| Neuroleptic |
A class of drug that includes Haldol and Risperdal |
| Neurotypical |
see NT |
| NICHCY |
"National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities" |
| NIH |
"National Institutes of Health"
U.S. government agency. |
| NLP |
"Natural Language Paradigm"
Note: NLP is also the acronym for something else: "Neuro-Linguistic Programming", and partly for this reason, "Natural Language Paradigm" has been renamed "Pivotal Response Training". |
| NIMH |
"National Institutes for Mental Health" |
| NT |
"Neurologically Typical" or for short, "Neuro-typical" or "Neurotypical"
this term is used in discussions of autistic people to refer to people who are not autistic. |
| NOS |
"Not Otherwise Specified" (see "PDD-NOS") |
| OCD |
"Obsessive Compulsive Disorder" |
| OCR |
"Office of Civil Rights" |
| Ocytocin |
a neurotransmitter. |
| ODD |
"Oppositional Defiant Disorder" |
| OT |
"Occupational Therapy" or "Occupational Therapist"
Like Physical Therapy only deals with fine motor skills, e.g. picking up small objects like coins. Occupational therapists would be the people who provide Sensory Integration Therapy |
| PANDAS |
"Pediatric Autoimmune Disorders Associated with Strep" |
| PDD |
"Pervasive Development Disorder" |
| PDD-NOS or PDD/NOS |
"Pervasive Development Disorder--Not Otherwise Specified" |
| PECS |
"Picture Exchange Communication System" |
| PEP |
"psycho-educational profile" (see "PEP-R") |
| PEP-R |
"psycho-educational profile-revised"
a test designed (among other things?) to assess the presence of autism and point toward treatment strategies and some areas of need. |
| perserveration |
obsessive-like continued immediate repetition of a behavior. |
| kica |
ingestion of nonfood items. |
| PET |
positon emission tomography |
| PPT |
proprioceptive |
| PRT |
"Pivotal Response Training" |
| PT |
"Physical Therapy" |
| Public Law 94-142 |
Also known as The Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 (EAHCA). USA Federal law providing funds to states that maintain certain standards in their education of handicapped children, i.e. providing a free and appropriate education in a least restrictive environment. I believe IDEA is the more recent version of this law. |
| Purkinje cells |
A type of cell in the brain. There is a theory that a lack of Purkinje cells is related to autism. This idea came from reports of autopsies on autistic people. |
| QEEG |
type of EEG |
| refrigerator mother |
Slang jargon phrase used to describe mothers of autistic children who act coldly. The phrase was used in descriptions of the Freudian psychological theory of the cause of (infantile) autism. |
| Residual state autism |
(actually, "infantile autism
residual state") A DSM-III (1980) category for individuals who once met the criteria for autism but no longer do so but may retain some residual traits. DSM-IV (1987) dropped the category. |
| 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. |
| Seratonin |
A neurotransmitter, i.e. brain chemical that plays a part in communication within the nervous system. It has been noted that the level of seratonin measured in autistic people is sometimes higher than that in typical people. Some of the drugs that have been tested for use with autistic people have been drugs already known to affect seratonin. |
| SI |
"Sensory Integration"
SI also sometimes stands for "Speech Impairment". |
| SIB |
"Self-Injurious Behavior" |
| SIT |
"Sensory Integration Therapy" |
| SLP or S-LP |
"Speech-Language Pathologist" |
| Son Rise |
The name of a book by Barry Neil Kaufman about his autistic son and the name of a program for treating/educating autistic children that Kaufman started. |
| SRRI |
"selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor" |
| SSI-DC |
"Supplimental Security Income-Disabled Child"
US program. |
| SSS |
"Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome" |
| stim |
(e.g. stimming) short for "self-stimulation", a term for behaviors whose sole purpose appears to be to stimulate ones own senses. An example is rocking ones body. Many people with autism report that some 'self stims' may serve a regulatory function for them (ie. calming, adding concentration, shutting out an overwhelming sound). Other examples: hand-flapping, toe-walking, spinning, echolalia. |
| TEACCH |
"Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children" |
| TOM |
"Theory of Mind" |
| TS |
"Tourette Syndrome"
The initials "TS" have also been used for another condition, "Tuberous Sclerosis" |
| Upledger Cranio-Sacral Therapy |
see "Cranial Sacral Therapy" Upledger is the name of a person who sells training in the methodology to therapists. |
| Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales |
test sometimes used to evaluate students possibly requiring special education. |
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