12.8: XII Glossary

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs): Potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood, such as violence, abuse, and growing up in a family with mental health or substance use problems.

Bibliotherapy: A behavioral intervention that uses books to help children express feelings in a supportive environment, gain insight into feelings and behavior, and learn new ways to cope with difficult situations.

Conduct disorder (CD): A behavioral disorder diagnosed when a child shows an ongoing pattern of aggression toward others with serious violations of rules and social norms at home, school, and with peers.

Developmental disabilities: A group of conditions with physical, learning, language, or behavioral impairments.

Developmental monitoring: Routine screenings for developmental delays during well-child visits based on observations of the child and discussion with parents.

Developmental screening: Formal questionnaires or checklists based on research that ask questions about a child’s development, including language, movement, thinking, behavior, and emotions.

Dyscalculia: A learning disorder with difficulty with math.

Dysgraphia: A learning disorder with difficulty with writing.

Dyslexia: A learning disorder with difficulty with reading.

Echolalia: Repeating certain behaviors or exhibiting unusual behaviors, such as repeating words or phrases.

Expressive language disorder: Difficulty communicating thoughts using language due to not knowing the words to use, not knowing how to put words together, or not being able to express the words.

Intellectual disability: A person’s ability to learn at an expected level and function in daily life is limited.

Learning disorder: Difficulty in one or more areas of learning, even when a child’s overall intelligence or motivation are not affected.

Mental health disorders among children: Serious changes in the way children typically learn, behave, or handle their emotions, causing distress and problems getting through the day.

Music therapy: A behavioral intervention to improve an individual’s physical, psychological, cognitive, behavioral, and social functioning by listening to music, singing, or moving to music.

Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD): A behavioral disorder diagnosed when children act out persistently, causing serious problems at home, in school, or with peers.

Play therapy: A behavioral intervention that encourages children to express feelings such as anxiety, self-doubt, and fear through their natural play. It also allows them to work through painful or traumatic memories.

Receptive language disorder: Difficulty understanding what others say due to not hearing the words (hearing loss) or not understanding the meaning of the words.

Restraint: Any manual method, physical or mechanical device, material, or equipment that immobilizes or reduces the ability of a patient to move their arms, legs, body, or head freely.

Seclusion: The involuntary confinement of a client alone in a room or area from which the client is physically prevented from leaving.

Separation anxiety: A condition of children being very afraid when away from parents or caregivers.

Tics: Sudden twitches, movements, or sounds that people do repeatedly with the inability to stop their body from doing these actions.