Glossary of Terms on Autism
This glossary is designed to explain some of the scientific terminology, abbreviations etc. used by some people when they talk about autism or research.
You may be able to find more information, including links to other parts of this website, by clicking on the title of an item.
If you can’t find the word you are looking for, or you know of a word we should include, please email info@researchautism.net
Disclaimer
The fact that an intervention is listed in this glossary does not necessarily mean that we agree with its use. Nor does it necessarily mean that there is any scientifically valid or reliable evidence behind it.
Over time we hope to evaluate each of the interventions listed in this glossary, providing a ranking which tells you the level of scientific evidence which supports or does not support its use. For more information please see Treatments and Therapies for Autism Currently Under Scientific Evaluation by Research Autism
- Glossary Item
- Description
- FACE
-
FACE is a humanoid robot capable of expressing and conveying emotions and empathy.
- Facilitated Communication
-
Intervention designed to help people with limited communication develop their pointing skills.
- Facing Your Fears
-
Facing Your Fears is a family-based cognitive behavioural programme designed to reduce anxiety in people with autism.
- Faith Healing
-
A wide range of interventions and practices which attempt to use religious or spiritual means to prevent illness, cure disease, or improve health.
- Family Counselling
-
Family counselling is another term for family therapy, a branch of psychotherapy that works with families and couples in intimate relationships to nurture change and development.
- Family Systems Therapy
-
Family systems therapy is another term for family therapy, a branch of psychotherapy that works with families and couples in intimate relationships to nurture change and development.
- Family Therapy
-
Family therapy is a branch of psychotherapy that works with families and couples in intimate relationships to nurture change and development.
- Family-Centred Intervention
-
Programmes which involve parents and professionals working together, in a systematic and collaborative , to address a child’s problems.
- Fast ForWord®
-
Set of interactive computerized language-learning programmes designed to develop and strengthen memory, attention, processing rate, and sequencing.
- Fatty Acids
-
Another term for essential fatty acids, which are essential amino acids that cannot be created within the human body and must therefore be obtained from the diet
- Faverin®
-
Brand name for Fluvoxamine, a type of SSRI anti-depressant, used to treat a range of conditions but especially obsessive compulsive disorder
- FCT
-
Acronym for Functional Communication Training, a behavioural strategy for teaching people to use signs or other techniques as substitutes for the ‘messages’ underlying their challenging behaviour.
- FDA
-
Acronym for the US Food and Drug Administration, the body which authorises the use of drugs in the USA.
- Fecal Transplant
-
Fecal (faecal) microbiota transplantation – also known as FMT or stool transplant – is the process of transplantation of fecal bacteria from one person to another.
- Feingold Diet or Program
-
Diet which requires the individual to avoid some additives – such as synthetic colourings, flavourings, and preservatives – as well as salicylate – a natural plant toxin found in some foodstuffs and medicines.
- Feldenkrais Method
-
An approach which teaches an individual how to move with greater ease, comfort, and coordination.
- Felicium®
-
A brand name for fluoxetine, a type of SSRI anti-depressant, used to treat a variety of conditions including anxiety and depression.
- Fenfluramine
-
Fenfluramine hydrochloride is an indirect 5-HT receptor agonist that was used as an anoretic i.e. an appetite reduction drug that was removed from sale in 1997 because of significant safety fears.
- Feuerstein Technique
-
Another name for Mediated Learning, an educational programme based on the idea that because intelligence is plastic and changeable, not fixed, it can be “taught” within a mediated learning environment.
- Fibroblast Growth Factors
-
Proteins that bind to receptors on the surface of cells.
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Last Updated : 22/03/2013
