Glossary

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Scoliosis

A structural condition in which the spine develops a sideways curvature, often in an 'S' or 'C' shape. Scoliosis ranges from mild curves requiring only monitoring to severe cases that can affect posture, breathing, mobility, and chronic pain, and it is sometimes associated with…

Severe Speech and Physical Impairments(also: SSPI)

A classification describing individuals who have significant limitations in both speech production and physical movement, often co-occurring in conditions such as cerebral palsy. People with SSPI may have little or no functional speech and limited fine motor control, which…

Speech Impairment(also: Speech Disability, Communication Disability)

A condition affecting the ability to produce speech sounds or to communicate verbally. Speech impairments range from mild articulation difficulties to complete inability to speak, and may be caused by neurological conditions, physical injuries, developmental conditions, or…

Spina Bifida(also: Neural Tube Defect, Myelomeningocele)

A congenital birth defect in which the embryonic neural tube fails to close completely during development, resulting in an incompletely formed spinal cord. The severity ranges from mild (spina bifida occulta, often asymptomatic) to severe (myelomeningocele, where the spinal cord…

Spinal Cord Injury(also: SCI)

Damage to the spinal cord that results in temporary or permanent changes in motor function, sensation, or autonomic function below the level of injury. Depending on the location and severity, spinal cord injuries can cause paraplegia (lower body paralysis) or…

Spinal Cord Injury(also: SCI)

Damage to the spinal cord that results in partial or complete loss of motor function, sensation, or both below the level of injury. The location of injury along the spine determines which abilities are affected: injuries at higher vertebrae (e.g., C4-C5) affect more of the body,…

Spinal Stenosis(also: Lumbar Stenosis, Cervical Stenosis)

A narrowing of the spaces within the spine that can put pressure on the nerves travelling through the spinal column. When spinal stenosis occurs in the cervical (neck) region, it can cause weakness, numbness, or tingling in the hands and arms, affecting fine motor control and…

Stroke(also: Cerebrovascular Accident, CVA)

A medical condition caused by interruption of blood supply to the brain, resulting in brain cell damage that can cause a range of disabilities including paralysis, speech and language impairments (aphasia), cognitive difficulties, and sensory changes. Stroke is a leading cause…

Symbrachydactyly

A rare congenital condition in which a child is born with abnormally short fingers that may be webbed, misshapen, or missing. The name combines "sym" (joined), "brachy" (short), and "dactyly" (finger). Typically only one hand is affected, and the underlying bone, muscle,…

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