Terminology Glossary
Apraxia: Uncoordinated movements of the body and motor functions due to damage to the brain.
Auditory Processing Disorder: A disconnect between hearing senses and the brain creates a disruption. Those with this disorder might have more trouble listening to someone speak to them if they are in a noisy environment.
Assistive Technology: AAC is a set of tools and strategies that an individual uses to solve everyday communicative challenges. Communication can take many forms such as: speech, a shared glance, text, gestures, facial expressions, touch, sign language, symbols, pictures, speech-generating devices, etc. https://tiltonstherapyfortots.com/assistive-technology/
Bilateral Integration: Using both sides of your body together (ie. Catch a ball or stabilize paper while coloring)
Cerebral Palsy: A neurological condition which affects the body’s abilities in movement and coordination. This developmental disorder occurs in the brain and usually is recognized early in life.
Dexterity: Having skill with your hands to carry out tasks like writing, painting, carving, etc.
Distal: Further away from the middle of your body like your fingers and toes.
Dynamic Standing Balance: Maintaining balance while in motion or moving, when parts of your body are in movement but you are able to maintain your balance and center.
Dysphagia: Difficulty swallowing or sometimes the sensation of having difficulty swallowing.
Fine Motor: Small muscular movements like writing or grasping to pick something up with your hand
Functional Fun: Playing games or doing activities which promote development or learning through play.
Gait: The way a person walks or their stride.
Gross Motor: The learned abilities usually developed during childhood through activities like standing up, walking, running, ascending or descending stairs, or similar actions. It is building muscle strength, natural balance, and overall coordination.
Hippotherapy: Therapy with horses - The rhythm and repetition of each step along with the speed and gait adjustments all contribute to understanding natural movement and assist a child in many different ways. https://tiltonstherapyfortots.com/resources/benefits-hippotherapy
Occupational Therapy: children's activities such as playing, learning and socializing with friends. https://tiltonstherapyfortots.com/occupational-therapy/
Orthotics: Support devices often custom-made to externally assist people with conditions or assist in the treatment of neurological or skeletal issues - like braces or splints.
Physical Therapy: Physical therapy treatment includes various playful and therapeutic activities to improve range of motion, strength, static and dynamic balance, postural control and stability, motor coordination, endurance, walking and running patterns, and safety, to assist a child’s overall gross motor development. https://tiltonstherapyfortots.com/physical-therapy/
Positive Reinforcement: Introducing a favorable result for a task, which can be associated with completing a task in the future and create a positive connection.
Prone: laying down on your stomach
Proximal: Closer to the middle of your body like your hips and back
Range of Motion: The potential of movement for a person or part of the body. This can be limited by injury or conditions which therapy can improve upon.
Sensory Input: Anything that might cause you to experience something related to your senses: sight, smell, hearing, tasting, or touch.
Sensory Processing Disorders: Similar to any idea of overstimulation. The brain has difficulty as information or stimulus is presented and additional difficulty processing the information. Environmental factors have an effect on those with SPDs.
Spatial Awareness: The ability to understand your own body’s position within your surroundings and space. It has to do with the awareness of your own body - like how your arms are positioned in relation to your trunk. The freedom for a child to explore their surroundings helps them test and understand things to develop their spatial awareness and more gracefully interact with things.
Speech Therapy: specialized intervention to allow children to gain appropriate communication skills in order to create valuable relationships in their lives. https://tiltonstherapyfortots.com/speech-therapy/
Supine: laying down on your back
Torticollis: This condition appears in the neck muscles - one side of the neck will contract, making the neck become twisted and turns the head down to the side. Stretching and work with a physical therapist can alleviate some symptoms.
Vestibular Input: Your vestibular senses are located in the inner ear and can be apparent when performing activities like jumping, spinning, or being upside down.
Visual Motor Planning: This refers to the ability to think about and have connection to make sense of what you see. Catching a ball or writing letters between the lines are examples using visual motor planning.
