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
- Rage Reduction Therapy
-
A form of attachment therapy, an extremely controversial group of therapies designed to help children with attachment disorders.
- Random Allocation
-
A method that uses the play of chance to assign participants to comparison groups in a trial, e.g. by using a random numbers table or a computer-generated random sequence.
- Random or Randomised Control Trial
-
An experiment in which two or more interventions, possibly including a control intervention or no intervention, are compared by being randomly allocated to participants.
- Ranflutin®
-
A brand name for fluoxetine, a type of SSRI Anti-depressant, used to treat a variety of conditions including anxiety and depression.
- Rapid Prompting Method
-
Technique designed to develop academic and communication skills by eliciting responses through intensive verbal, auditory, visual and/or tactile prompts
- Raven's Progressive Matrices
-
A set of non-verbal intelligence tests.
- Razadyne®
-
Razadyne® is a brand name for galantamine, a drug usually used to treat Alzheimer’s disease.
- RCT
-
Acronym for Randomised Control Trial, an experiment in which two or more interventions, possibly including a control intervention or no intervention, are compared by being randomly allocated to participants.
- RDI
-
Acronym for Relationship Development Intervention, an intervention which aims to develop an individual’s ability to participate in authentic emotional relationships by exposing the individual to those relationships in a gradual, systematic way.
- Rebound Therapy
-
Use of trampolines to provide therapeutic exercise and recreation
- Reboxetine
-
Reboxetine is a type of drug called a selective noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitor which is a type of antidepressant.
- Reciprocal Play Therapy
-
Reciprocal Play Therapy is a comprehensive family intervention designed to help children with autism discover the pleasures of human contact and communication.
- Recovery
-
Recovery is another term for cure, which is to recover or restore someone from a condition such as autism so that they no longer have that condition.
- Recreation Therapy
-
Type of play therapy, which refers to a large group of treatment methods which use the therapeutic benefits of play.
- Redux®
-
Brand name for dexfenfluramine hydrochloride, an appetite reduction drug. It was removed from sale because of significant safety fears.
- Reflexlocomotion
-
A form of patterning therapy.
- Reflexology
-
Practice of stimulating points on the feet, hands and ears
- Regression
-
Process in which children appear to develop normal language and social skills but then lose these with the onset of autism before age 3.
- Regressive Autism
-
Form of autism in which children appear to develop normal language and social skills but then lose these with the onset of autism before age 3. Some forms of regressive autism are severe enough to be classed as Childhood Disintegrative Disorder.
- REI
-
Acronym for Rhythmic Entrainment Intervention, a therapy which uses recorded hand drumming rhythms to stimulate the central nervous system and improve brain function.
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Last Updated : 18/05/2013
