Glossary

Masking is a  terem which has two meanings.

1. Hiding the fact that someone is on the autism spectrum, usually through imitation of other people.

2. Another term for blinding, the process of preventing those involved in a trial from knowing to which comparison group a particular participant belongs.

Massage is the practice of applying pressure, tension, motion, or vibration to the skin, muscles and other soft tissues of the body.

Massage therapy is the use of massage to obtain therapeutic effects.

The May Institute Program is a form of early intensive behavioural intervention for autism run by the May Institute in Rochester, Massachusetts.

MBCT is an acronym for melodic based communication therapy, an intervention designed to make use of the musical strengths of the child with autism in order to increase verbal output.

MDMA is an illegal drug that acts as both a stimulant and psychedelic, producing an energizing effect, as well as distortions in time and perception and enhanced enjoyment from tactile experiences.

Mean is an average value, calculated by adding all the observations and dividing by the number of observations.

Mears-Irlen syndrome is a type of visual stress, a condition in which an individual cannot see clearly so the world seems disjointed, confused and scary.

Mediated learning is an educational programme based on the idea that because intelligence is plastic and changeable, not fixed, it can be taught within a mediated learning environment.

A medical home is designed to meet the large majority of each patient's physical and mental health care needs, including prevention and wellness, acute care, and chronic care.

Medication is any chemical substance intended for use in the medical diagnosis, cure, treatment, or prevention of disease.

Meditation includes a variety of techniques or practices, such as prayer, which are intended to focus or control attention.

Mega-vitamin therapy is another term for the use of multiple vitamins as a therapeutic tool.

MEL melatonine MLT is another term for melatonin, the hormone which regulates our biological clock.

Melatonin is a hormone and neurotransmitter which regulates our biological clock.

Melodic based communication therapy is an intervention designed to make use of the musical strengths of the child with autism in order to increase verbal output.

Meltdown is a term used to describe the condition of a person who under pressure or stress has reached a point where they can no longer cope and have 'snapped' or 'lost it'. They may become angry, tearful or over react in an emotional manner.

Memantine is in a class of medications called NMDA receptor antagonists and is sold under a variety of brand names inc. Ebixa, Maruxa, Nemdatine and Namenda.

Memory is the mental capacity or faculty of retaining and reviving facts, events, impressions, etc., or of recalling or recognising previous experiences.

Mental handicap or retardation are other terms for learning difficulty or disability.