Glossary

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Agnosia

A neurological condition in which a person has difficulty recognising familiar objects, faces, places, sounds, or other sensory stimuli despite intact basic sensory function and general cognition. Specific subtypes include visual agnosia (difficulty recognising objects or…

Facial Palsy(also: Bell's Palsy, Facial Paralysis, Unilateral Facial Palsy)

Facial palsy is a condition involving weakness or paralysis of the facial muscles, typically caused by damage to the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII). Bell's palsy is the most common form, appearing suddenly and usually affecting one side of the face. Facial palsy can…

Genu Recurvatum(also: Knee hyperextension)

Backward bending of the knee beyond its normal straight position during standing or stance phase of gait. Genu recurvatum is often caused by hamstring weakness, quadriceps spasticity, or proprioceptive deficits following stroke, cerebral palsy, or spinal cord injury. Repeated…

Knee Buckling(also: Knee giving way)

A sudden loss of knee stability during weight-bearing in which the knee flexes involuntarily, often causing the person to stumble or fall. Knee buckling is commonly caused by quadriceps weakness, neurological conditions (stroke, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury), knee…

Neuromuscular Disorders(also: Neuromuscular Diseases, NMDs)

A broad group of medical conditions that impair the functioning of muscles, either through direct pathology of the muscle tissue, the peripheral nerves that control them, or the neuromuscular junction where nerves connect to muscles. Neuromuscular disorders include amyotrophic…

Paresis(also: Partial Paralysis)

A partial loss of voluntary muscle movement, distinguished from full paralysis (plegia). Paresis can affect a single limb (monoparesis), one side of the body (hemiparesis), or all four limbs (tetraparesis), and may result from stroke, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, or…

Spastic Quadriplegia(also: Spastic Tetraplegia)

The most severe subtype of spastic cerebral palsy, characterised by stiff, tight muscles (spasticity) and significantly reduced voluntary movement in all four limbs and often the trunk. People with spastic quadriplegia commonly use powered wheelchairs and may rely on switch…

Stroke(also: Cerebrovascular Accident, CVA, Brain Attack)

A medical condition occurring when blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. Strokes can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or death. In accessibility contexts, stroke survivors often experience…

Stroke Rehabilitation(also: Stroke Rehab, Post-Stroke Therapy)

A program of therapies designed to help stroke survivors regain lost abilities, relearn skills, and adapt to limitations caused by stroke. Rehabilitation typically includes physical therapy for motor function, occupational therapy for daily activities, and speech therapy for…

Tetraparesis(also: Quadriparesis)

Partial weakness or reduced voluntary movement affecting all four limbs, commonly caused by cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, or neuromuscular disease. Tetraparesis sits on a spectrum with tetraplegia (complete paralysis of all four limbs) and has significant implications for…

Tinnitus(also: Ringing in the Ears)

Tinnitus is the perception of sound - most commonly ringing, buzzing, or hissing - without a corresponding external source. It can be continuous or intermittent, uni- or bilateral, and ranges from mild background nuisance to severely disabling. Tinnitus is often associated with…

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