Audiologist – Measures your child’s hearing. Will see you either in Inverness or at one of the centres in the North.
Community Paediatrician - A doctor who specialises in child health and development.
Clinical Psychologist – specialises in helping children who have difficulties with relationships with other people.
Community Learning Disability Nurse – Advises on all aspects of caring for a child with a learning disability. Visit you at home. Offers practical help.
Cardiologist – A doctor who specialises in looking after hearts.
Dietician – Helps with all sorts of feeding problems and may lend you equipment to cope. Ask for an appointment through your doctor.
Educational Psychologist – Assesses your child and gives advice on educational needs, can advise on how to help your child at home.
Neurologist – Specialist doctor who works with patients with epilepsy and problems of the brain.
Opthalmologist – Specialist eye doctor.
Orthoptist – Works with eye doctor particularly with children with eye problems eg. Squints.
Orthopaedic Consultant – Specialist doctor who works on legs, arms or spine.
Orthotist – A person who makes splints, callipers and provides specialist shoes.
Paediatrician – Specialist doctor who works with children.
A & E – Accident and Emergency Department
E.N.T. Clinic – Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic
S.C.B.U. – Special Care Baby Unit (often pronounced skibu)
Acute – the short term crisis phase of an illness.
Chronic – persisting for a long time.
Congenital – present at birth
Cranial – relating to the skull
Gastrostomy – surgical opening into the stomach from the outside to enable a feeding tube to be inserted
Genetics – branch of biology that deals with hereditary conditions
Prognosis – the forecast of the course and probable outcome of a disease
Respiratory – To do with breathing.
ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
CP - Cerebral Palsy
CF - Cystic Fibrosis
DS - Down’s Syndrome
MD - Muscular Dystrophy
VI - Visually Impaired
ADHD - Highland Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder
CHIP+ - Children in the Highlands Information Point +
DSS - Down’s Syndrome Scotland Highland Branch
ES - Epilepsy Scotland
FACES - Family Association for Children with Extra Special Needs (Badenoch)
HCCF - Highland Community Care Forum
HCF - Highland Children’s Forum
HIAS - Highlands & Islands Autism Society
HDCD - Highland Developmental Co-ordination Disorders Group
HLDRG - Highland Learning Disabilities & Relationships Group
NAS - National Autistic Society
SNAP - Special Needs Action Project
SSA - Scottish Society for Autism
PRT - Princess Royal Trust for Carers
HV - Health Visitor
OT - Occupational Therapist
SLT - Speech & Language Therapist
PMHW - Primary Mental Health Worker
CTC - Child Tax Credit
DLA - Disability Living Allowance
DP - Direct Payments
CA - Carers Allowance
IS - Income Support
WTC - Working Tax Credit
ASN - Additional Support Needs
CSP - Co-ordinated Support Plan
IEP - Individualised Educational Programme
CAB - Citizens Advice Bureau
DRC - Disability Rights Commission
DWP - Department of Work & Pensions
HHB - Highland Health Board
ASL - Additional Support for Learning Act
AWI - Adults With Incapacity Act
DDA - Disability Discrimination Act