Comprehensive Glossary of Terms

Speech-Language Pathology

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Articulation: How clearly sounds are produced (e.g., difficulty pronouncing "r" or "l").

Aphasia: Difficulty communicating due to brain injury, affecting speaking, understanding, reading, or writing.

Apraxia: Difficulty planning and coordinating speech movements, leading to problems forming sounds or words.

Dysarthria: Difficulty speaking due to muscle weakness or paralysis, affecting speech clarity and fluency.

Fluency: Smoothness and flow of speech, including rhythm, pacing, and ease of speaking.

Phonology: The sound system of a language, including how sounds are combined to form words.

Pragmatics: Using language appropriately in social situations, including nonverbal cues and turn-taking.

Receptive Language: Understanding spoken language, including vocabulary and grammar.

Expressive Language: Using language to communicate thoughts, ideas, and feelings.

Speech Delay: When a child's speech development falls behind expectations for their age.

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Counseling

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Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Addresses negative thought patterns and behaviors by identifying and modifying them.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Helps manage emotions, improve relationships, and tolerate distress by learning skills like mindfulness and distress tolerance.

Couples Therapy: Helps couples improve communication, resolve conflict, and strengthen their relationship.

Family Therapy: Helps families communicate better, function more effectively, and resolve challenges.

Grief Counseling: Provides support and guidance after experiencing a loss.

Mental Health Assessment: Evaluates mental health status and diagnoses disorders using interviews, tests, and observations.

Psychotherapy: General term for therapy that uses psychological techniques to treat mental health conditions and emotional distress.

Stress Management: Techniques to reduce stress and improve coping skills, promoting overall well-being.

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Testing

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Achievement Test: Measures academic knowledge and skills acquired in a specific subject area.

Aptitude Test: Measures potential for success in a particular field or type of training.

Intelligence Test (IQ Test): Measures cognitive abilities like reasoning, problem-solving, and information processing.

Neuropsychological Assessment: Evaluates brain function and identifies potential cognitive impairments that may affect learning and behavior.

Personality Test: Measures personality traits and tendencies, used for various purposes like career guidance.

Standardized Test: Administered and scored in a consistent way to allow for comparisons across individuals or groups.

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Child Psychology

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Attachment Theory: How early relationships with caregivers affect a child's emotional development and social interactions.

Developmental Milestones: Expected skills and behaviors children achieve at different ages (e.g., walking, talking, socialization).

Learning Disabilities: Difficulties with specific academic skills like reading, writing, or math despite normal intelligence.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD): Pattern of negative and defiant behavior towards authority figures.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with daily functioning.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Social communication challenges and restricted interests or repetitive behaviors.

Social-Emotional Development: How children develop emotions, social skills, and self-regulation.

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Executive Functioning

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Attention Control: Ability to focus and maintain focus on a task without distraction.

Working Memory: Ability to hold information in mind for short-term use and manipulate it mentally.

Planning and Problem-Solving: Ability to set goals, develop strategies, and solve problems effectively.

Organization: Ability to manage time, materials, and tasks in a structured and efficient way.

Time Management: Ability to plan and use time effectively to meet deadlines and goals.

Self-Monitoring: Ability to track your own progress, evaluate performance, and adjust behavior accordingly.

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Social Work

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Advocacy: Supporting and defending the rights of individuals, families, and communities.

Case Management: Coordinating services and resources to meet the needs of clients.

Child Welfare: Protecting children from abuse, neglect, and exploitation, ensuring their safety and well-being.

Crisis Intervention: Providing immediate support and resources during a difficult or dangerous situation.

Disability Services: Helping individuals with disabilities live independently and participate in their communities.

Mental Health Services: Providing counseling, therapy, and support for individuals with mental health conditions.

Social Justice: Working to create a more equitable and just society for all.

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Special Education

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Individualized Education Program (IEP): A legal document outlining a student's special education needs, goals, and services.

504 Plan: A plan to provide accommodations for students with disabilities in the general education setting without requiring special education services.

SMART Goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals used in IEPs to ensure they are clear, attainable, and track progress. (Note: SMART Goals can be a general goal-setting framework, but it has particular importance in Special Education)

Least Restrictive Environment (LRE): Educating students with disabilities alongside their non-disabled peers to the maximum extent possible, with appropriate supports and services.

Learning Disability (LD): Difficulty with a specific academic skill (e.g., reading, writing, math) despite normal intelligence.

Inclusion: Educating students with disabilities in general education classrooms with support services.

Differentiation: Tailoring instruction to meet the individual needs and learning styles of all students.

Assistive Technology: Tools and devices that help students with disabilities learn and participate in school activities (e.g., text-to-speech software, adapted keyboards).

Universal Design for Learning (UDL): Designing learning environments and materials to be accessible to all students, regardless of their abilities.

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School-Based Admin Team

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Principal: The overall leader of the school, responsible for educational programs, staff supervision, and school climate.

Assistant Principal: Provides support to the principal and oversees specific areas (e.g., curriculum, discipline).

Curriculum Director: Leads curriculum development and implementation, ensuring alignment with standards and student needs.

Guidance Counselor: Provides academic, social-emotional, and career counseling to students.

School Psychologist: Assesses students' academic, social-emotional, and behavioral needs to provide support and interventions.

Special Education Coordinator: Oversees special education programs and services, ensuring compliance with regulations and meeting student needs.

Social Worker: Provides social-emotional support and connects families with resources to address challenges outside of school.

Dean of Students: Manages student discipline and behavior issues, promoting a safe and positive school environment.

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Job Titles

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Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP): Evaluates and treats speech and language disorders in children and adults.

School Counselor: Provides academic, social-emotional, and career counseling to students in a school setting.

School Psychologist: Assesses students' academic, social-emotional, and behavioral needs to provide support and interventions.

Child Psychiatrist: Diagnoses and treats mental health disorders in children and adolescents.

Special Education Teacher: Provides instruction to students with disabilities, using specialized strategies and accommodations.

Special Education Teacher Assistant: Supports special education teachers in the classroom by providing individualized instruction and assistance to students.

Resource Room Teacher: Works with students with disabilities in a specialized setting to provide targeted instruction and support.

Occupational Therapist (OT): Helps children develop the fine and gross motor skills needed for learning and daily activities.

Physical Therapist (PT): Helps children develop the gross motor skills needed for mobility and participation in school activities.

School Social Worker: Provides social-emotional support to students and families, connecting them with resources to address challenges outside of school.

School Administrator: Oversees the day-to-day operations of the school, encompassing various leadership roles (e.g., principal, assistant principal).

School Neuropsychologist: Assesses brain function and how it relates to learning and behavior in children.

Behavior Intervention Specialist: Develops and implements plans to address challenging behaviors in students.

General Education Teacher: Provides instruction to students in a general education classroom setting.

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Learning Strategies

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Active Learning: Students engage with the material through discussions, problem-solving, and activities, rather than passively receiving information.

Microlearning: Breaking down information into small, focused modules for easier digestion and knowledge retention.

Spaced Repetition: Reviewing information at increasing intervals to improve long-term memory and knowledge recall.

Adaptive Learning: Learning platforms that adjust to the individual learner's pace and needs, providing personalized instruction.

Blended Learning: Combining online and offline learning methods to create a more flexible and engaging learning experience.

Gamification: Incorporating game-like elements (points, badges, leaderboards) into learning experiences to boost engagement and motivation.

Knowledge Transfer: Ability to apply knowledge learned in one context to another, promoting deeper understanding and problem-solving skills.

Self-Directed Learning: Taking ownership of your own learning journey by setting goals, choosing learning resources, and monitoring progress.

Lifelong Learning: The ongoing process of acquiring new knowledge and skills throughout life to stay relevant

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Tele-Services

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Telehealth: The delivery of healthcare services remotely using telecommunications technology, encompassing various specialties like speech-language pathology and counseling.

Teletherapy: The use of telecommunications technology to provide therapy services remotely (e.g., video conferencing for psychotherapy sessions).

Teleassessment: The use of telecommunications technology to conduct assessments remotely, such as psychological evaluations.

Teleconsultation: The use of telecommunications technology to consult with another healthcare professional remotely, allowing for collaboration and expertise sharing.