Glossary

Discrete trial training is a highly-structured training technique that involves a trainer instructing an individual with autism using a series of learning opportunities or 'trials'.

A disease is a pathological (extreme) condition of a body part, an organ, or a system resulting from various causes, such as infection, genetic defect, or environmental stress, and characterized by an identifiable group of signs or symptoms

Disintegrative psychosis is another term for childhood disintegrative disorder, an extremely rare form of autism.

In medicine, a disorder is defined as a functional abnormality or disturbance.

Disruptive behaviours is another term for behaviours of concern.

Distressed behaviours is another term for behaviours of concern.

Diuretics are are type of medication used to reduce the swelling and fluid retention caused by various medical problems, including heart or liver disease. They are also used to treat high blood pressure.

Divalproex sodium is another name for sodium valproate, a type of anticonvulsant designed to prevent or reduce the severity of seizures.

Divine healing is another name for faith healing, a wide range of interventions and practices which attempt to use religious or spiritual means to prevent illness, cure disease, or improve health.

Dixarit is a brand name for clonidine, a type of drug called an alpha 2-adrenergic receptor agonist or antihypertensive.

DMDD is an acronym for disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, a condition in which a child is chronically irritable and experiences frequent, severe temper outbursts that seem grossly out of proportion to the situation at hand.

DMG is an acronym for dimethylglycine, a derivative of the amino acid glycine. It is found naturally in plant and animal cells and in certain foods such as beans, cereal grains, and liver.

DMPS is an acronym for dimercaptopropanesulfonate, a synthetic chemical used as a chelating agent to remove heavy metals from the body.

DMSA is an acronym for dimercaptosuccinic acid, a synthetic chemical used as a chelating agent to remove heavy metals from the body.

Docosahexaenoic acid is a type of omega 3 fatty acid found in some foodstuffs such as fish oil.

Dolphin assisted therapy is a specialised form of dolphin therapy which use structured programmes designed to meet the needs of the individual child.

There are many different kinds of dolphin therapy. The simplest involve the child swimming with, touching or 'looking after' dolphins.

Doman Delecato is another term for Doman Therapy, a patterning therapy based on a series of movement patterns which facilitate neurological feedback to the brain.

Doman therapy is a patterning therapy based on a series of movement patterns which facilitate neurological feedback to the brain.

Donepezil is a drug usually used to treat Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. It is sold under various brand names including Aricept.