Glossary of Disability Terms
Below are the terms often used in the disability community.
seizure: Sudden, uncontrollable spasm of muscles caused by excessive electrical activity in the brain (see epilepsy).
speech impairment: Any of several speech problems that include articulation impairment (omissions, substitutions or distortions of sound), voice impairment (inappropriate pitch, loudness or voice quality) and fluency impairment (abnormal rate of speaking, speech interruptions and repetition of sounds, words, phrases or sentences which interferes with effective communication).
spina bifida: A condition caused by the incomplete closure of the spine during fetal development. Characteristics include muscle weakness or paralysis below the area of the spine where the incomplete closure occurs; loss of bowel and bladder control; and/or accumulation of fluid in the brain, which is controlled by a surgical procedure, called shunting.
tourette syndrome: Neurological disorder characterized by tics— involuntary, rapid, sudden movements or vocalizations.
traumatic brain injury (TBI): A brain injury from externally inflicted trauma. The primary causes of TBI include incidents involving motor vehicles, falls, acts of violence and sports injuries. TBI can range from mild (concussions) to severe, with outcomes ranging from a few symptoms to lifelong impairment.
tuberous sclerosis: Genetic condition that produces abnormal growths in the body from birth throughout life. Symptoms may include seizure disorder, intellectual impairment, behavior problems, white skin patch, and facial rash.