In the world of special needs, there is often a huge learning curve when it comes to names of symptoms, professionals and deciphering acronyms. To make it easier for you we have compiled a list of some of the ones we know of on this one page. All information shared on this page is covered by our Disclaimer.
| Symptoms | Acronyms | Professionals |
Glossary of symptoms
Below are some medical terms you may come across and a brief description of what they are. For detailed lists of other conditions and more information on most listed below, visit Contact a Family Directory of Conditions.
| Allergy | Adverse reaction to a normally harmless substance |
|---|---|
| Amblyopia (lazy eye) | Vision in one eye does not develop fully |
| Anaphylaxis | Very severe allergic reaction causing breathing difficulties |
| Areflexia | Decreased or no tendon reflex |
| Ataxia | Muscle control in arms and legs affected, balance and coordination problems |
| Arthrogryposis | Affected joints fixed in certain positions |
| Asthma | Condition that affects the airways |
| Astigmatism | Distorted vision |
| Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) | Hyperactivity and/or inattention problems |
| Babinski Reflex | Occurs when the big toe flexes toward the top of the foot and the other toes fan out after the sole of the foot has been firmly stroked. |
| Cardiomyopathy | Disease of heart muscle that results in abnormal cardiac function |
| Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) | A temporary or permanent visual impairment varying in degrees of severity |
| Chorea | Involuntary movements of extremities and face |
| Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) | Inflamed and painful bones |
| Cleft Lip and/or Palate | Part or all of the lip and palate do not fuse during pregnancy |
| Coeliac Disease | Affects the small intestine, due to sensitivity to gluten found in wheat |
| Coloboma | Gap in one of the structures of the eye |
| Constipation | Delay or difficulty in passing stools |
| Cortical | The outer part of an organ |
| Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) | A temporary or permanent visual impairment varying in degrees of severity |
| Craniosynostosis | Skull shape abnormalities |
| Diabetes | Sugar (glucose) level in blood too high |
| Diarrhoea | Frequent, loose or liquid stools |
| Dysarthria | Speech disorder associated with production of speech. |
| Dyslexia | Varying degree's of/or difficulty to read, spelling, writing re. sequencing and organisation. |
| Dysphagia | Difficulty in swallowing |
| Dyspraxia | May have difficulties with fine & gross motor, perception, organisational, language and concentration of varying degrees |
| Dystonia | Syndrome where muscle spasms lead to abnormal postures, affecting neck, trunk and limbs. |
| Dystrophy | Muscular weakness |
| Echolalia | Repeating what has been said |
| Ectodermal Dysplasia | Abnormalities of two more parts of the body i.e. teeth, sweat glands, facial structure, hair, digits, nails |
| Eczema | Skin inflammation can be caused by stress, allergens, irritants, etc. |
| Encephalitis | Inflammation of the brain, caused by viral or bacterial infection |
| Enuresis (bedwetting) | Passing urine whilst asleep |
| Epilepsy | Abnormal electric impulses in nerve cells in brain characterised by seizures |
| Failure to thrive | Not growing at rate expected for age |
| Febrile seizure/convulsion | Can be brought on by a fever in very young children |
| Heart Murmurs | Abnormal extra sound within the heart and its valves |
| Hemiparesis | Muscle weakness on one side of the body |
| Hydrocephalus | Increase of/or obstruction of cerebro spinal fluid within the brain |
| Hyperacusis | Hearing is over-sensitive to certain sounds |
| Hypermobility | Over flexibility of joints |
| Hypersensitive | Excessive sensitivity to sensations or stimulus |
| Hypertonia | Abnormal increase in muscle tension and reduced ability of a muscle to stretch |
| Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy | Heart muscle becomes thickened |
| Hyperventilation | Breathing at an abnormally rapid rate |
| Hypoglycaemia e | Low blood sugar levels |
| Hypotonia | Low muscle tone - floppy |
| Infantile Spasms | A specific type of seizure, onset predominantly in first year |
| Kyphosis | Excessive curvature of the spine |
| Lactose intolerant | Unable to break down/digest the sugar (lactose) found in milk |
| Learning difficulties | Covers a wide range of intellectual impairment |
| Lordosis | Lower forward spinal curvature |
| Macrocephaly | Large head |
| Meningitis | Brain lining inflamed, caused by bacterial or viral infection |
| Microcephaly – | Small head |
| Monoplegia | One limb paralysis |
| Myoclonus | Irregular jerking movements/spasms of limbs and trunk |
| Myopathy | Muscle weakness |
| Myotonia Congenita | Inability of muscles to quickly relax after involuntary contraction |
| Nystagmus | Involuntary, rapid eye movements |
| Oedema | Abnormal accumulation of fluid in body |
| Oculomotor Apraxia | Visual impairment – difficulty moving eyes |
| Opsoclonus | Irregular eye movements – vertical and horizontal |
| Opsoclonus myoclonus | Characterised by unsteady gait, brief spasms, irregular eye movements and speech difficulties |
| Optic Atrophy | Degeneration of optic nerve causing loss of sight |
| Peripheral cyanosis | Poor circulation causing blue discolouration of skin |
| Peripheral Neuropathy | Damage to nervous system, which transports information from brain and spinal cord to other parts of the body |
| Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) | Lack of oxygen or blood flow to periventricular area of brain, resulting in the loss of brain tissue, affects foetuses and newborns |
| Pervasive development disorder (PDD) | Group of disorders characterised by delays in development, socialization and communication skills |
| Pes cavus | High arched feet, plus other foot deformities caused by imbalance between muscles in feet |
| Plagiocephaly | Distortion in shape of head |
| Polymyasitis | Inflammatory disorder of skeletal muscles, causing muscle weakness of varying degrees |
| Pneumonia | Infection or inflammation in lung tissue |
| Ptosis | Drooping of one or both eyelids |
| Reflux | Stomach acid contents flow back up into gullet/oesophagus |
| Scoliosis | Curvature (sideways) of the spine |
| Selective mutism | Psychological problem whereby unable to speak in certain social settings |
| Sensory integration dysfunction | Under or over reacts to sensory input |
| Sleep Apnoea | Airway narrowing or blocking during sleep |
| Social communication disorders | Affects social interaction and communication |
| Spondylitis | Inflamed joints of the spine |
| Spondylosis | Sponylosis is degeneration of the vertebrae like osteoarthritis in the peripheral joints |
| Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) | Heart muscle pumps too fast |
| Talipes | Abnormality of the foot or feet |
Common Acronyms
| AAC | Augmentive and Alternative Communication |
|---|---|
| ABA | Applied Behaviour Analysis |
| A&E | Accident and Emergency |
| ADD | Attention Deficit Disorder |
| ADHD | Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder |
| AFOs | Ankle, Foot, Orthosis/Orthotics |
| AIT | Auditory Integration Training |
| ASDs | Autistic Spectrum Disorders |
| AVA | Audio Visual Aids |
| BSL | British Sign Language |
| CA | Carers Allowance |
| CAB | Citizens Advice Bureau |
| CAMHS | Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service |
| CDC | Child Development Centre |
| CDT | Child Development Team (name may differ by area) |
| COP | Code of Practice |
| CP | Clinical Psychologist/Cerebral Palsy |
| CPAP | Continuous Positive Airway Pressure |
| CPR | Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation |
| CT/CAT | Computerised Axial Tomography (scan) |
| DAFOs | Dynamic Ankle, Foot Orthosis |
| DfES | Department for Education and Skills |
| DFG | Disability Facilities Grant |
| DH | Department of Health |
| DLA | Disability Living Allowance |
| DP | Direct Payments |
| DWP | Department of Work and Pensions |
| ECG | Electrocardiogram (Electrical Heart trace) |
| EEG | Electroencephalogram (Electrical activity of the brain) |
| EMG | Electromyography (assesses function of nerves & muscles) |
| ENT | Ear, Nose and Throat |
| EP | Educational Psychologist |
| EPU | Early Pregnancy Unit |
| EYDCP | Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership |
| EYSS | Early Years Support Service |
| FFT | Family Fund Trust |
| GF/CF | Gluten free/Casein free diet |
| GP | General Practitioner |
| HA | Health Authority |
| HCP | Health Care Plan |
| HV | Health Visitor |
| ICU | Intensive Care Unit |
| IEP | Individual Education Plan |
| ILC | Independant Living Council |
| ILP | Individual Learning Plan |
| IPSEA | Independant Panel for Special Educational Advice |
| LD | Learning Difficulties |
| LEA | Local Education Authority |
| LSA | Learning Support Assistant |
| MLD | Moderate Learning Difficulties |
| MMR | Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccine |
| MRI | Magnetic Resonance Imaging (scan) |
| MSI | Multi-Sensory Impairment |
| NAS | National Autistic Society |
| NG Tube | Nasogastric Tube |
| NHS | National Health Service |
| NICE | National Institute for Clinical Excellence |
| NICU | Neonatal Intensive Care Unit |
| O2 | Oxygen |
| Ofsted | Office for Standards in Education |
| OT | Occupational Therapist |
| PALS | Patient Advice Liaison Service |
| PCT | Primary Care Trust |
| PD | Physical Difficulties |
| PECS | Picture Exchange Communication System |
| PEG | Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (feeding tube) |
| PICU | Paediatric Intensive Care Unit |
| PMLD | Profound Multiple Learning Difficulties |
| PT | Physiotherapy/Physiotherapist |
| RCPCH | Royal College of Paediatrics and Health |
| SI | Sensory Impairment |
| SIS | Sensory Impairment Service |
| SLD | Severe Learning Difficulties |
| SLT/SALT | Speech and Language Therapist |
| SEN | Special Educational Needs |
| SENCO | Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator |
| SN | Special Needs |
| SCBU | Special Care Baby Unit |
| SS | Social Services |
| SW | Social Worker |
| TA | Teaching Assistant |
| TAC | Team Around the Child (name may differ by area) |
| VI | Visual Impairment/Visually impaired |
| VOCA | Voice Output Communication Aid |
| W/C | Wheelchair |
Glossary of Professionals
| Anaesthetist | Ensures child is anaesthetised (asleep) and pain free during surgery or invasive procedures |
|---|---|
| Audiologist | Audiologists perform hearing tests and monitor your child's hearing. |
| Cardiologist | Specialist in diseases of the heart |
| Children with Disabilities Team | Children with Disabilities Teams are teams within Social Services who specialise in working with children with disabilities and their families. Their actual name may vary according to area |
| Clinical Physiologists | Investigate the function of the nervous system in order to diagnose and monitor neurological disorders |
| Clinical Psychologist | Offers advice on developmental and behavioural problems |
| Community Nurse for Children with Disabilities | Offer advice, implement programmes of care and support to families of children with special needs |
| Community Dentist | Dentist trained to work with children who have difficulty accessing a mainstream dentist |
| Community Paediatrician | Community paediatricians are children's doctors who are experts in child development and how ill health and disability can affect children. They usually work in community based child development centres, family doctor health centres, hospitals and schools. |
| Continence Advisor | Provides advice and help if a child is incontinent |
| Consultant | A doctor trained in a specialist subject |
| Dermatologist | Diagnosis and treatment of skin, nail and hair disorders |
| Dietician | A Dietician works for the Health Service and can advise on dietary issues for example for a child that has trouble feeding and/or swallowing or is under or overweight |
| Educational Psychologist | Provides advice and support on learning and behaviour to parents and teachers |
| Epilepsy Nurse | Provides support, advice, training to families of children with epilepsy |
| Gastroenterologist | Specialises in diseases of the digestive tract, liver and pancreas |
| General Practitioner (GP) | Doctor who gives advice, medical help and may prescribe or refer on to a specialist |
| Geneticist | Diagnoses and management of genetic disorders |
| Haematologist | Specialises in study and analysis of blood, blood forming tissue and associated disorders |
| Health Visitor | Health visitors are registered nurses who have undertaken further training to provide health education and preventative care for children less than five years old. Some may also specialise in school health and preventative care of the elderly. |
| Home Start | Home Start is a home visiting service that is provided by Social Services or the local Health Service which trains and provides volunteers for visiting families at home to provide support |
| Multi-disciplinary | A team consisting of more than one professional involved in the care and education of your child. For example, a teacher, a physiotherapist and a doctor |
| Neurologist | Looks at diagnosing, treating and manages disorders of the brain |
| Occupational Therapist | Occupational Therapists (OT) help children with difficulties with activities in daily life. For example, this may include seating, drinking, school equipment and aids. You may have an OT from the Health Service and also from Social Services for your child |
| Oncologist | Specialises in treatment for cancer |
| Ophthalmologist | An eye specialist, based in hospitals, who is qualified to deal with eye defects and disease. |
| Optometrist | An Optometrist is usually based at a hospital or opticians and specialise in measuring eye sight and prescribing glasses |
| Orthodontist | Branch of dentistry specialised with the growth and development of the face |
| Orthopaedic Surgeon | Specialising in assessing and correction of bones and joints |
| Orthoptist | A specialist in correcting visual problems through non surgical means such as exercises |
| Orthotist | Provides range of specialized footwear, splints and braces to aid movement, help correct deformities and relieve pain and discomfort |
| Paediatrician | A specialised doctor who cares for children. |
| Paediatric Neurologist | A specialist in the brain for children. Your paediatrician may refer your child to a Neurologist if the need arises |
| Palliative Medicine Consultant | Pain control management for advanced, progressive and life threatening illnesses. |
| Paramedic | Trained in all aspects of emergency care |
| Pathologist | Specialist in detection of disease |
| Pharmacist | Advice for medicine and drugs |
| Phlebotomist | Takes blood |
| Physiotherapist | A Physiotherapist specialises in motor and physical development and implements a suitable programme of exercises and equipment for your Special Needs child if required |
| Podiatrist/Chiropodist | Diagnoses, treats and advice given regards foot problems |
| Portage | Home teaching service for pre-school children with additional support needs and their families |
| Prosthetist | Designs and fits artificial limbs |
| Psychotherapist | Advice/help to overcome stress, anxieties, emotional and behavioural problems |
| Radiographer | Works within the radiology and imaging department taking X-rays, MRIs and CTs. |
| Registrar | Doctor in advanced stage of training towards becoming a consultant |
| Respiratory Physician | Specialises in breathing problems which can cause respiratory failure during waking or sleeping hours |
| Rheumatologist | Treatment and care for joint, muscle and soft tissue disorders |
| SENCO | Responsible for coordinating educational support for children with special needs |
| Social Services | To identify care needs and provide a service |
| Social Worker | Assigned to family by social services to assess needs, advice and plan package of care and support to help if required |
| Specialist Health Visitor | Specialist nurses offering support and advice to families who have a child with a special need. |
| Speech and Language Therapist | Speech and Language Therapists specialise in helping those with communication and language problems. They may work in schools, hospitals, medical centres |
