Glossary of Pediatric Therapy Terms
Therapy reports and school meetings use a lot of specialist language. These short definitions explain common terms; follow the links for fuller guides.
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A
- AAC (augmentative and alternative communication)
- Signs, picture systems or devices that support or replace speech. Learn more
- Apraxia of speech
- Difficulty planning and coordinating the movements needed to produce speech sounds. Learn more
B
- Bilateral coordination
- Using both sides of the body together, such as holding paper with one hand while cutting with the other. Learn more
D
- Developmental coordination disorder (DCD)
- A condition in which motor coordination is well below what is expected for age and affects daily life; sometimes called dyspraxia. Learn more
- Dyspraxia
- A term often used for difficulty planning and carrying out coordinated movements. In the US, DCD is the more common diagnostic term. Learn more
E
- Early Intervention
- Services for infants and toddlers (birth to 3) with developmental delays, provided under Part C of IDEA. Learn more
- Executive functioning
- Mental skills such as planning, working memory, flexible thinking and self-control. Learn more
- Expressive language
- Using words, sentences, gestures or AAC to communicate. Learn more
F
- Fine motor skills
- Small, precise movements of the hands and fingers. Learn more
G
- Gross motor skills
- Large-muscle movements such as walking, jumping and climbing. Learn more
H
- Heavy work
- Activities that push, pull or carry against resistance, giving proprioceptive input. Learn more
- Hypertonia
- Higher than typical muscle tone, making muscles feel stiff. Learn more
- Hypotonia
- Lower than typical muscle tone, making muscles feel floppy; may affect posture and endurance. Learn more
I
- IDEA
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act — the federal law governing special education and IEPs. Learn more
- IEP
- Individualized Education Program — a legal plan for special education and related services. Learn more
- Interoception
- The sense of internal body signals such as hunger, thirst and needing the bathroom. Learn more
M
- Motor planning (praxis)
- Thinking up, organizing and carrying out a new movement. Learn more
P
- Pincer grasp
- Picking up small objects between the tips of the thumb and index finger. Learn more
- Pragmatic language
- The social use of language — turn-taking, topic maintenance and reading context. Learn more
- Proprioception
- The sense of body position and movement, from receptors in muscles and joints. Learn more
R
- Receptive language
- Understanding words, directions and conversation. Learn more
S
- Section 504
- Part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibiting disability discrimination; the basis of 504 plans. Learn more
- Self-regulation
- The ability to manage arousal, emotions and behavior to fit the situation. Learn more
- Sensory diet
- A personalized schedule of sensory activities to help a child stay regulated. Learn more
- Sensory integration
- The way the brain organizes sensory information for use; also an OT approach. Learn more
- Standard score
- A test score compared with an age-based reference group, often with an average of 100. Learn more
T
- Tactile defensiveness
- Strong negative reactions to touch that most people find harmless. Learn more
V
- Vestibular system
- The inner-ear sense of movement, head position and balance. Learn more
- Visual-motor integration
- Coordinating what the eyes see with hand movements, as in copying shapes. Learn more
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