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
- AIT
-
Acronym for Auditory Integration Training, an intervention in which a person with autism listens to a selection of music which has been modified.
- AIT Plus
-
Form of therapy which combines AIT with Light Therapy and Sound modulation.
- Aldactone®
-
Aldactone® is a brand name for a spironolactone, a type of medication called an aldosterone receptor antagonist.
- Aldosterone Antagonists
-
An aldosterone antagonist is a compound that blocks the action of aldosterone, a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands that is important for maintaining salt and water balance in the body
- Alert Program®
-
Intervention based around teaching to self-regulate their level of alertness so that they can respond appropriately to a variety of situations.
- Allergy-Free Diet
-
The allergy-free diet requires you to avoid any foodstuffs, such as peanuts, which are known to cause you allergies.
- Allied Health Professionals
-
Allied Health Professionals refers to a wide group of professionals who work alongside doctors and nurses within the health care system.
- Allocation Concealment
-
The process used to ensure that the person deciding to enter a participant into a randomised controlled trial does not know the comparison group into which that individual will be allocated.
- Allopathy
-
Another term for conventional medicine, the medicine practiced by doctors and by allied health professionals – such as nurses, occupational therapists etc – which is based on sound scientific evidence.
- ALM
-
Acronym for aided language modelling, an intervention which consists of engaging the child in interactive play activities and providing models of use of augmentative and alternative communication symbols during play.
- Alpha Blockers
-
A type of adrenoreceptor blocking agent. This is a class of drugs used to treat a range of conditions including hypertension, angina, irregular heart beat, heart failure and heart attack
- Alpha Lipoic Acid
-
An antioxidant that is manufactured in the human body. It is sometimes taken as a nutritional supplement or used as a chelating agent.
- Alternative Communication
-
Another term for augmentative communication, which refers to the different ways (other than speech) that people use to communicate with each other.
- Ambient Prism Lenses
-
Ambient prism lenses are used to help improve ambient vision, the visual system related to spatial organisation.
- American Sign Language
-
Sign language used by the deaf community and others in many parts of North America
- Amino Acid
-
Amino acids are organic compounds that combine to form proteins, the basic building blocks for life.
- Amino Acid Therapy
-
The use of amino acids, usually in the form of dietary supplements, for therapeutic purposes.
- Amisulpride
-
Type of atypical anti-psychotic drug used to treat schizophernia and psychosis.
- Amoxicillin
-
Amoxicillin is in a class of medications called penicillin-like antibiotics
- Amphotericin B
-
Type of anti-fungal medication
Last Updated : 13/05/2013Back To Top
