Glossary R - Z
R
Receptors Organs which may consist of one cell or a small group of cells which respond to different forms of external or internal stimuli by conveying impulses down nerves to the central nervous system, alerting it to changes in the internal and external environment.
Regression To go backwards. This usually refers to the loss of skills previously acquired, especially those basic skills related to early childhood.
Repetitive behaviour Abnormally intense preoccupation with one subject or activity; distress over change; insistence on routines or rituals with no purpose; repetitive movements, such as hand flapping.
Respite care Provision of care, relief or support to carers of physically or mentally disabled persons.
Rett syndrome A profoundly disabling neurological disorder which only affects girls. The girls appear normal at birth and acquire infant skills to the 9 to 12 month level. A slowing of development then occurs and regression, with loss of skills in speech and hand use and social withdrawal, begins at around one to three years. Motor development is severely impaired, with difficulty in planning and co-ordinating movement.
Ritualistic behaviour Ranges from simple stereotyped movements such as spinning objects, picking threads from carpets, flicking pieces of string, opening and shutting doors, spinning the wheels of toys through motor mannerisms - such as rocking, hand flapping or flicking - to more sophisticated and complex behaviours as IQ levels rise.
Rubinstein Taybi syndrome A genetic disorder where children usually have normal birthweights, but subsequent growth is poor and developmental delay is usual. The most striking feature is broad, sometimes angulated thumbs and first toes.
S
Savants Individuals with moderate or profound learning disabilities, who possess special talents, usually in the areas of music, mathematics, drawing or calendrical calculations.
Schizophrenia A serious mental illness which usually develops in the late teens or early twenties, where thoughts, feelings and actions are somewhat disconnected from each other. Symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, loss of energy and loss of interest in life.
Script fading This refers to a process by which children with communication disorders are taught how to initiate conversations or social interactions with peers. They are provided with a script about recently completed, current and future activities. At first children have the full script to use to help their initiation skills. Gradually the script is faded so that the children use unscripted initiations. The script-fading procedure enabled children with severe social and verbal deficits to practice context-specific, peer-directed generative language that was not prompted by adults or peer confederates.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) A medication that blocks the ‘reuptake’ of serotonin back inside the cell that has released it into the synapse. This increases the amount of serotonin free and available in the synapse.
Self injurious behaviour Self-directed violence including hitting the head with a clenched fist, banging the head against hard objects, skin picking and eye gouging.
Self stimulation Behaviours which are thought to be used to provide stimulation to the individual. These occur more commonly in people who have severe learning disabilities, especially if they have autistic traits or are understimulated.
Semantics The science of language dealing with the meanings of words.
SENCO Special Educational Needs Coordinator. All schools in the UK should have one of these to manage the needs of any children who have learning difficulties. Usually it is a teacher.
Serotonin A major neurotransmitter involved in depression and anxiety. A quarter to a third of people with autism show abnormally high levels of serotonin in the blood.
Smith Magenis syndrome A genetic disorder where common characteristics include some degree of self-injury, sleep disturbance, developmental delay, short stature, decreased sensitivity to pain, hyperactivity and destructive or aggressive behaviour.
Social behaviour An individual’s social abilities such as establishing and maintaining satisfactory interpersonal skills, displaying behaviour within reasonable social expectations and making personal adjustments.
Social cognition Cognitive processes and activity that accompany and mediate social interactions.
Speech therapy Professional assistance in diagnosing and treating a whole spectrum of acquired and developmental communication disorders.
SPELL An educational approach to overcome or reduce the disabling effects of autism, creating an atmosphere which has Structure, Positive approaches and expectations, is Empathetic, Low arousal and maintains vital Links. It emphasises consistency of approach and the importance of mainstream opportunities and settings.
Statementing Preparation of a formal document that specifies any additional input or support required to best meet the learning needs of an individual child.
Stereotypy Repetitive actions lacking curiosity and creativity. (Aka ‘stereotypic behaviour’.)
Stimming Stimming is a word commonly used by parents and professionals for the self-stimulatory behaviour shown by some people with autism. Such behaviour is also sometimes referred to as stereotypic behaviour or stereotypy. It can take different forms and involve the stimulation of different senses, for example staring at an object in motion or a light, rocking back and forth, vocalising or making repetitive noises, hand flapping or spinning round.
Sulphation Within the biochemical theory of autism there is concern over the very low levels of plasma sulphate in the bodies of individuals with autism. This seems to affect their ability to inactivate/remove neurotransmitter amines in the blood. Sulphation is a biochemical process which should maintain a healthy balance in the body.
T
TEACCH Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication handicapped Children is a whole-life approach to helping children and adults with autism spectrum disorders, developed by Eric Schopler in North Carolina. The principles and concepts of the TEACCH system are improved adaptation; parent collaboration; assessment for individualised treatment; structured teaching; skill enhancement; cognitive and behaviour therapy and generalist training.
Theory of mind A philosophical concept of the understanding one has that another person has an individual perspective on states of affairs, that this consciousness depends in part on information which they may have which is not available to oneself and vice versa.
Tourette syndrome A condition characterised by multiple tics characteristically involving the facial area (twitches, blinking, nodding) as well as phonic (vocal) tics. The onset of symptoms usually occurs between the ages of 2 and 21.
Triad of impairments Impairments affecting social interaction, social communication and imagination which are essential features of an autism spectrum disorder.
Tryptophan An amino-acid in proteins which is essential for optimal growth in infants. It is a precursor to serotonin.
Tuberous sclerosis Tuberous (swellings or enlargements) sclerosis (the hardening of an organ or tissue) is a complex heterogeneous genetic disorder which may affect many of the body systems. Typical manifestations occur in the brain, skin, eye, kidney, bones, lungs and intestine.
Turner’s syndrome A chromosomal condition affecting 1 in 2,500 girls where the second X chromosome is absent or abnormal. Turner’s syndrome is generally characterised by short stature and non-functioning ovaries, usually leading to absence of pubertal development and infertility.
W
West’s syndrome Condition usually commencing between 3 and 8 months of age characterised by infantile spasms and often associated with a change in behaviour and a slowing of development of the child.
Williams syndrome A genetic condition causing developmental delay. Features include facial similarities (prominent cheeks, upturned nose, wide mouth, irregular teeth) and hypersensitivity to loud noises. Children may have a heart problem and some develop hypercalcaemia (low calcium levels) within the first 2 years of life.
