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You are here: Home / Intro / How we help / Glossary

How we help

Glossary

"The beginning of knowledge is the discovery of something we do not understand"
Frank Herbert

At The Sound Learning Centre we do our utmost to describe everything in layman's terms as we believe that clarity and full understanding are at the root of finding practical ways forward.  Here we list any jargon, medical terms or names you may come across in this field.

ADD: Attention Deficit Disorder, a developmental disorder that presents during childhood, in most cases before the age of seven, and is characterised by developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention. See also: What they say – ADD, ADHD, Hyperactivity.

ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a developmental disorder that presents during childhood, in most cases before the age of seven, and is characterised by developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention and hyperactive-impulsive behaviour. See also: What they say – ADD, ADHD, Hyperactivity.

Anorexia Nervosa: an eating disorder characterised by low body weight and body image distortion. Individuals with anorexia often control body weight by voluntary starvation, purging, vomiting, excessive exercise, or other weight control measures, such as diet pills or diuretic drugs. See also: What you see – Emotions.

Asperger's Syndrome: a pervasive developmental disorder, commonly classified as a form of high-functioning autism. Individuals with Asperger's Syndrome have normal or above average intellectual capacity, with atypical or poorly developed social skills and emotional awareness. People with Asperger's Syndrome can also exhibit obsessive compulsive behaviours. Development or integration may occur later than usual. See also: What they say – Autism.

Audiokinetron: a machine used to alter music in accordance with the protocol established by Dr. Guy Bérard for Auditory Integration Training (AIT). See also: How we help – Sound therapy.

Auditory Integration Training (AIT): a sound therapy developed in France by Dr. Guy Bérard which is designed to treat Auditory Processing Disorders (APD) and other sensory dysfunctions. See also: How we help – Sound therapy.

Auditory Processing Delay is an Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) and specifically refers to timing delays in processing what is being heard. It often is a contributor to dyslexia and stuttering/stammering.

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), also known as Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD), is a difficulty with processing what is being heard and describes a range of problems with processing auditory information in the brain. It is recognised as a major cause of dyslexia. See also: What they say – C.A.P.D.

Autism: or Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neuro-developmental disorder which manifests itself in markedly abnormal social interaction, communication ability, patterns of interests and patterns of behaviour. See also: What they say – Autism.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD): or Autism is a neuro-developmental disorder which manifests itself in markedly abnormal social interaction, communication ability, patterns of interests and patterns of behaviour. See also: What they say – Autism.

Balance System: or balance system is the sensory system that provides input about movement and orientation in space. It comprises three semicircular canals, which indicate rotational movements and the otoliths, which indicate linear movement. See also: What's behind it – Vestibular system.

Bérard, Dr. Guy: a French E.N.T. (ears, nose and throat) specialist, who identified a link between hearing distortions and many behavioural and learning problems and developed Auditory Integration Training (AIT) treatment. See also: How we help – Sound therapy.

Binocular Vision: vision in which both eyes work together. See also: What you see - Vision.

Bulimia Nervosa: Bulimia nervosa, or bulimia, is an eating disorder caused by a psychological condition in which the person engages in recurrent binge eating followed by intentional purging, typically takes the form of vomiting, use of laxatives, enemas, diuretics or other medication, excessive exercising or fasting. See also: What you see – Emotions.

Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD): also known as Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), is a difficulty with processing what is being heard and describes a range of problems with processing auditory information in the brain. It is recognised as a major cause of dyslexia. See also: What they say – C.A.P.D.

Chromo Therapy: a colour therapy programme developed by Pierre Van Obberghen, Switzerland.

Cocktail Party Syndrome: the inability to separate conversation from background noise in a noisy environment (see also Presbyacusis).

Coprolalia: the spontaneous utterance of socially objectionable words or phrases. Often associated with Tourette's Syndrome.

Direct Senses: the five traditional senses: hearing, vision, touch, smell and taste. See also: What's behind it – The senses.

Downing, Dr. John: a multi-disciplinary scientist and innovator in bio-engineering, health and neuro-science who developed Lightwave Stimulation (LWS) or Downing Technique treatment, a neuro-sensory developmental programme using light and colour. See also: How we help – Light therapy.

Dyslexia: a specific learning disability of neurological origin. Characterised with difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition, spelling and decoding abilities. See also: What they say – Dyslexia.

Dyspraxia: an impairment or immaturity of the organisation of movement caused by an immaturity of the way the brain processes information, resulting in messages not being fully transmitted to the body.  See also: What they say – Dyspraxia.

Echolalia: Echolalia is the repetition or echoing of verbal utterances made by another person. When done involuntarily, it is considered a phonic tic. See also: What you see - Hearing.

EASIE: a programme and training course – Education And Sound In Education. See also: How we help - Training courses.

Emotional Transformation Therapy (ETT): a programme developed by Dr. Steven Vasquez in the USA using a Lumatron or Photron machine, selecting colours to assist clients to identify, talk about and release emotional and associated physical and psychological blockages.

Global Developmental Delay: delayed achievement of a number of key developmental milestones. See also: What they say – Developmental Delay.

Glue Ear: or otitis media, is an inflammation of the middle ear segment of the ear. It is usually associated with a build-up of fluid and frequently causes an earache. The fluid may or may not be infected. See also: What you see - Hearing.

Hyperactivity: a state in which a person is abnormally easily excitable and exuberant. Strong emotional reactions and a very short span of attention are also typical for a hyperactive person. See also: What they say – ADD, ADHD, Hyperactivity.

Indirect Senses: include the balance (vestibular) and proprioceptive systems. See also: What's behind it – Balance and What's behind it - Proprioception.

Instrumental Enrichment (IE): a world-renowned thinking skills and cognitive development programme developed by Professor Reuven Feuerstein.

Johansen Sound Therapy: a sound therapy developed by Dr. Kjeld Johansen, Director of the Baltic Dyslexia Research Laboratory in Denmark.

Lightwave Stimulation (LWS): or Downing Technique, a neuro-sensory developmental programme using light and colour. See also: How we help – Light therapy.

Listening Program, The: a music-based sound therapy developed in the USA.

Midline: an imaginary line from top to bottom of a person separating left from right. Some people have difficulties crossing the mid-line with their limbs or eyes. See also: How we help – Developmental.

Music Therapy: the use of music interventions to accomplish individualised goals within a therapeutic relationship by a qualified professional.

Neuro-developmental Programme (NDP): a programme of movement exercises to identify and correct motor and perceptual problems. See also: How we help – Developmental.

Lumatron: a machine used to provide (coloured) pulsed light activation in accordance with the protocol established by Dr. John Downing for Lightwave Stimulation (LWS). See also: How we help – Light therapy.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): an anxiety disorder most commonly characterised by a person's obsessive (repetitive, distressing, intrusive) thoughts and related compulsions (tasks or rituals) which attempt to neutralise the obsessions.

Otitis Media: or glue ear, is an inflammation of the middle ear segment of the ear. It is usually associated with a build-up of fluid and frequently causes an earache. The fluid may or may not be infected. See also: What you see - Hearing.

Otoliths: part of the vestibular, or balance, system they sense linear acceleration or deceleration. There are two in each inner ear, the utricle measuring horizontal movement and the saccule measuring vertical movement.

Photron: a portable machine used to provide (coloured) pulsed light activation in accordance with the protocol established by Dr. John Downing for Lightwave Stimulation (LWS). See also: How we help – Light therapy.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): the psychological consequences of exposure to, or confrontation with, stressful experiences such as actual or threatened death, serious physical injury, or a threat to physical and/or psychological integrity.

Pragmatics: linguistics, related to bridging the explanatory gap between sentence meaning and speaker’s meaning.

Presbyacusis: the gradual loss of hearing as a result of the natural process of ageing.

Proprioception: the sense of the position of parts of the body, relative to other neighbouring parts of the body. See also: What's behind it – Proprioception.

Prosody: linguistics, includes intonation and vocal stress in speech.

Reflexes: primitive reflexes develop in the womb, are present at birth and gradually inhibit during the first twelve months as the infant begins to move and grow. They are replaced by postural reflexes which cope with the demands of a gravity-based environment. See also: What's behind it – Reflexes.

SAMONAS Sound Therapy: a sound therapy developed by Ingo Steinbach, a German sound engineer.

Saccule: an otolith, part of the vestibular, or balance, system which senses linear acceleration or deceleration in the vertical plane.

Self-voice (SV): a multi-sensory learning and teaching method developed by Dr. Colin Lane in the UK based on the A.R.R.O.W. approach. See also: How we help – Speech & Language.

SenseAbility: a programme and training course for parents and health and educational professionals dealing with how the senses influence ability and emotional state. See also: How we help - Training courses.

Sensory Integration Disorder (SID): a neurological disorder causing difficulties with processing information from the five direct senses, the sense of balance and the proprioceptive system. Information is received normally, but perceived abnormally by the brain. See also: What they say – Sensory Integration.

Speech & Language Therapy: an intervention technique that addresses speech production, vocal production, swallowing difficulties and language.

Tinnitus: the sensation of a ringing or buzzing noise that is not caused by any external sound. See also: What you see – Hearing.

Tomatis, Dr. Alfred: 1920-2001, a French E.N.T. (ears, nose and throat) specialist, who laid the groundwork for a new multi-disciplinary science called Audio-Psycho-Phonology (APP) and developed a sound therapy called the Tomatis method.

Tourette's Syndrome: a neurological disorder, characterised by the presence of multiple involuntary movements (motor tics) and involuntary utterances (phonic tics). This can include the spontaneous utterance of socially objectionable words or phrases (Coprolalia).

Utricle: an otolith, part of the vestibular, or balance, system which senses linear acceleration or deceleration in the horizontal plane.

Van Obberghen, Pierre:  developer of Chromo-Therapy.

Vasquez, Dr. Steven: a psychotherapist in the USA who has developed Emotional Transformation Therapy (ETT).

Vestibular System: or balance system is the sensory system that provides input about movement and orientation in space. It comprises three semicircular canals located in the inner ear, which indicate rotational movements and the otoliths, which indicate linear movement. It is lnked to both the auditory and ocular systems. See also: What's behind it – Vestibular system.

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