Special Needs

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A therapy option for childhood depression.

Play Therapy

A therapy option for childhood depression.

Family Therapy

A therapy option for childhood depression.

Antidepressants

Medication, typically SSRIs, prescribed with caution for childhood depression in specific cases.

Emotional Symptoms of Anxiety in Children

Excessive worry, fear, irritability, mood swings.

Physical Symptoms of Anxiety in Children

Stomachaches, headaches, fatigue, muscle tension.

Behavioral Symptoms of Anxiety in Children

Avoidance of certain situations, difficulty concentrating, trouble sleeping, excessive reassurance seeking.

Low Vision

Visual acuity between 20/70 and 20/400 or a visual field of 20 degrees or less, potentially with blurred vision and poor night vision.

Blindness

Visual acuity worse than 20/400 or visual field of 10 degrees or less, though some useful vision may remain.

Apraxia of Speech

A motor speech disorder where planning for speech movements is impaired, common in young children or those with brain injuries.

Dysarthria

Weakness or a lack of control in the muscles required for speech, often associated with neurological damage (e.g., cerebral palsy, stroke).

Nonverbal Autism

Individuals with minimal or no spoken communication, often using gestures or alternative communication methods.

Myth: Nonverbal individuals do not understand language.

Reality: Many possess strong receptive language skills.

Myth: They will never communicate verbally.

Reality: Many learn to communicate using alternative methods.

Myth: Nonverbal means low intelligence.

Reality: Nonverbal individuals exhibit a wide range of cognitive abilities.

Conductive Hearing Loss

Resulting from obstructions or damage to the outer or middle ear, hindering sound conduction to the inner ear.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Arises from damage to the inner ear (cochlea) or the auditory nerve, often permanent, and is the most common form of hearing loss in adults.

Mixed Hearing Loss

A combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, indicating damage to both the outer/middle ear and the inner ear or auditory nerve.

Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder (ANSD)

A condition where sound travels into the ear normally but fails to transmit correctly from the inner ear to the brain due to synchronization issues rather than cochlear damage.

Dyslexia

Reading difficulties.

Dyscalculia

Mathematical difficulties.

Dysgraphia

Handwriting difficulties.

Ritalin (methylphenidate)

A medication for ADHD that blocks the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine, increasing their levels in the brain for improved signal transmission.

Adderall (amphetamine and dextroamphetamine)

A medication for ADHD that primarily enhances dopamine and norepinephrine release, providing better focus and attention. Its effects usually last longer and are more intense than methylphenidate.

GATE Programs (Gifted and Talented Education)

Programs addressing individual differences in learning pace through acceleration (advanced progression, potentially skipping grade levels) and enrichment (keeping students at grade level but allowing for enhanced, in-depth study through specialized programs and activities).

Acceleration

A method in GATE Programs facilitating advanced progression, potentially skipping grade levels.

Enrichment

A method in GATE Programs keeping students at grade level but allowing for enhanced, in-depth study through specialized programs and activities.