Glossary of Terms

Acquired Brain Injury

An acquired brain injury may be the result of a head injury in a traffic accident, fall, sport injury, assault or accident at work or home. A blow to the head may severely shake the brain and cause brain damage even where there are no external signs of injury. People who have sustained brain injuries may have speech impairments, short term memory loss, difficulty organising thoughts and finding words, and a short attention span. They may have difficulty in self-censoring what they say, and act impulsively.

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a deficiency in the immune system due to infection with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). There is no curative treatment although symptoms and complications can be treated. See also HIV.

Allergies

Hypersensitivity to inhaled substances (allergens) can result in reactions such as runny nose, nasal congestion, eye inflammation and sneezing. Allergies can be seasonal like hayfever, or year-round and vary in intensity. Treatments such as antihistamines can cause sedation, dry mouth, nausea, dizziness, blurred vision and nervousness.

An acute allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) can be caused by medications, chemicals, foods and venom and result in low blood pressure, shock, irregular heartbeat, respiratory symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, and even death.

Anaphylactic Shock

A rare, severe and life threatening allergic reaction that causes a sudden sever lowering of blood pressure. May be caused by an insect bite, intravenous drug (such as penicillin), or drug or food taken by mouth.

Angina

A hear disorder that causes chest pain due to a lack of oxygen to the heart muscle, usually due to poor blood supply because of narrowing of the arteries. More common in men and women from the age of 50 years although can occur as early as 30 years. Other symptoms include nausea, sweating, dizziness, and breathing difficulty. Medication is taken to control the symptoms.

Arthritis

Inflammation of a joint, characterised by swelling and stiffness. Although there are many forms, the three most common types are Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Gout. Osteoarthritis results from wear and tear on the joints and most commonly affects older people. Rheumatoid Arthritis is where the body's immune system acts against and damages joints and surrounding tissues. Joints, especially in hands, wrists, feet and arms, can become extremely painful, stiff and deformed. Gout is when uric crystals accumulate in the joints and cause inflammation.

Asthma

The main symptoms are breathlessness, wheezing, dry cough and feeling of tightness in the chest. In a severe attack breathing may become difficult, causing sweating, rapid heartbeat, distress and anxiety. If the person's medication is on hand encourage them to take it immediately at the recommended dose.

Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD)

A developmental dysfunction of the central nervous system that occurs in children and adults. A significant proportion of adults continue to experience academic and behavioural symptoms of AD/HD. AD/HD symptoms include brief attention span, short-term memory problems, speech disorders, difficulties with balance and coordination, problems of/in perception and organising. Behavioural symptoms may include impulsiveness, low frustration threshold, poor self esteem and inflexibility.

Adults with AD/HD may experience difficulties with learning and social interaction, self-esteem, depression, mood swings and anxiety. Most, however, can and do develop strategies to overcome the worst features of AD/HD and lead very successful lives.

NOTE: Whereas people with AD/HD may experience learning difficulties, AD/HD is not classified as a learning disability.

Cancer

Cancer can occur in almost any organ system of the body and the symptoms and particular disabling effects vary greatly from one individual to another. Some individuals experience visual problems, lack of balance and coordination, joint pains, backaches, headaches, abdominal pains, drowsiness, lethargy, difficulty in breathing and swallowing, weakness, bleeding or anaemia.

The primary treatments for cancer - radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery - may induce additional effects. These therapies can cause violent nausea, drowsiness, fatigue and learning impairment.

Surgery can result in amputation, paralysis, sensory deficits and language and memory problems. The condition can fluctuate depending on how successful treatment is.

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy affects the motor nerves in the brain, resulting in varying degrees of paralysis, poor coordination, uneven gait, poor balance and/or speech difficulties if the muscles related to speech are affected. People with cerebral palsy often use walking aids.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) - also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is believed to be caused by an abnormal response to a virus or some other 'trigger' factor.

CFS is a chronic condition lasting months or years. Individuals with CFS are prone to relapse if they exceed the limits of physical or mental exertion which their illness imposes.

Symptoms may vary in severity from day to day, and even from hour to hour. There may be profound physical and mental exhaustion, persistent pain in the muscles and joints, headaches varying from dull to intense, dizziness, nausea, fainting, poor concentration and memory, pallor or flushing of face, an inability to tolerate extremes of heat, light or sound and sensitivity to various agents and chemicals.

Individuals with CFS will need to avoid prolonged standing, extremes of heat and cold, exposure to fumes from science laboratories and gas heating and mental or physical exertion beyond the limits imposed by their condition.

As a consequence of this illness, an individual may feel a great sense of isolation and loneliness as well as a serious loss of self-confidence.

Crohn's Disease

A form of inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease refers to persistent and recurring inflammation in one or more parts of the intestine. It may be associated with medical problems outside the intestine and there is no known cure.

Mild symptoms include diarrhoea, abdominal pain, weight loss, fatigue and clubbing of the fingers. More acute symptoms include cramping, nausea and fever. Treatment involves easing symptoms and may include surgery, intravenous liquid and nutrients and drugs to reduce inflammation. Stress may be an aggravating factor.

Deafness

See Hearing Impairment

Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease in which the body is prevented from converting glucose (a type of sugar) into energy because there is not enough insulin, a hormone that helps the conversion, or the insulin is not working adequately.

Epilepsy

Epileptic seizures can be brought about by illness, tiredness, stress, anxiety, flashing lights, excitement, excessive alcohol, an excess of physical activity, or lack of food. Avoiding these situations is important to reduce the frequency of seizures. Some people also take prescribed medication. Most people have no symptoms between seizures.

Haemophilia

A familial disease which is not very common. It is the result of the lack of a blood-clotting factor essential in blood. An injury usually results in copious bleeding.

Hearing Impairment

Hearing impairment can range from moderate levels of loss, to a state of profound deafness. Most types of hearing loss are conductive involving the outer or middle ear, and sensori-neural affecting the inner ear. Hearing aids and cochlear implants can assist some people with this disability. Others require the use of Australian Sign Language (AUSLAN). Most people with long-standing hearing loss can lip-read.

Hemiplegia

Loss of voluntary movement of one side of the body, usually after a Cerebro Vascular Accident (CVA or stroke).

Hepatitis

Inflammation of the liver with damage or death of liver cells. Most commonly caused by a viral infection. Types A, B, C are the most common.

HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) attacks the body's immune system and, in time, may cause Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in about one in five people who have the virus. Semen and blood have been proven to transmit the infection, mainly by sexual contact, transfusion and needle sharing, and women to foetus.

Incontinence

Loss of or poor bladder or bowel control. Causes may be physical or chemical, that is, caused or exacerbated by medication.

Learning Impairment

A learning impairment can come from a wide range of conditions that can cause students difficulty with reading, writing, spelling, listening, maths, processing information or reasoning. Often termed learning difficulty in NSW schools, this level of impairment is usually diagnosed with a variety of tests through a specialised clinic or psychologist. It is important for this diagnosis to isolate the exact areas where a student may have difficulty, so that appropriate accommodations can be made.

Lupus

A chronic inflammatory disorder of the connective tissues which may affect the skin only or multiple organ systems as well as the skin. Treatment varies according to diversity and type.

Symptoms commonly include fever, weight loss, malaise and fatigue, rashes and pain in multiple joints, sensitivity to sun and fluorescent lights. Complications may include kidney failure, urinary tract infections, lung and circulatory problems, eye damage (as a result of treatment), damage to the central nervous system. Often characterised by flare-ups and remissions.

Medical Impairments

This category includes medical conditions that significantly impair a person's abilities. These include epilepsy, cystic fibrosis, asthma, diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and multiple sclerosis. Some of the symptoms of these conditions can overlap into other areas (such as physical and vision). The symptoms causing a person's impairment can also remit (get better), or relapse (get worse). Short-term illnesses such as glandular fever can also impact on an employee's ability to work.

Mental Illness

Mental illnesses include Depression, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Eating Disorders and Severe Anxiety. Each is different in its effects and duration, and all are severely unpleasant and disabling during the acute phase.

For example, a person in the acute phase of their illness may become disoriented, paranoid, muddled and disjointed in their speech, suffer delusions or feel persecuted, have hallucinations or a grand belief in their own superior position and powers, jump from one subject to another or experience extreme mood changes.

Many people, however, are able to return to normal activities with treatment and when people with a mental illness are well there is no need to behave any differently towards them than to anybody else.

Multiple Sclerosis

A progressive disease of the central nervous system in which scattered patches of myelin (the protective covering of the nerve fibres) in the brain and spinal cord are destroyed. The cause is unknown and the symptoms can include blurred or double vision, blindness, tremors, weakness, numbness or tingling in the arms or legs, and pain in the face. They can occur singly or in combination, and may vary according to which parts of the brain and spinal cord are affected. They may last from several weeks to several months, and there may be long symptom-free periods for some people, and gradual and continuous decline in ability for others.

Muscular Dystrophy

Term for a group of muscle disorders that cause a slow progressive degeneration of muscle fibres. Can result in chronic weakness, fatigue, respiratory or cardiac problems. Walking, if possible, may be slow and uncoordinated.

Narcolepsy

Recurrent uncontrollable brief episodes of sleeping.

Paralysis

Complete or partial loss of controlled movement caused by the inability to contract one or more muscles. May be temporary or permanent; affect a small facial muscle or many of the muscles in the body. There may also be loss of feeling in the affected parts.

Paraplegia

Paralysis of both legs and part of the trunk due to nerve damage in the brain or spinal cord. Often with loss of sensation and urinary control.

Physical Impairment

This category includes conditions such as quadriplegic, paraplegic, cerebral palsy, stroke or illnesses (such as arthritis) that have led to the partial or complete loss of use of functioning of a limb or limbs. This can impact on mobility, manual dexterity, or stamina, depending on the task, the location, and a number of other factors. Some people with physical disabilities will use mobility aids (such as wheelchairs, walking sticks and crutches). Not all physical disabilities are permanent - injuries leading to bone or tissue damage can require temporary support.

Psychological or Psychiatric Impairment

This range of disabilities covers a variety of conditions and illnesses that can affect a person's behaviour. These conditions can change over time, with employees requiring different levels of assistance relevant to their state of health. People with these conditions may also experience side-effects from the medication they receive causing decreased concentration and fatigue, which can impact on their ability to study.

Quadriplegia

Paralysis of all four limbs and trunk. May be caused by damage to the spinal cord in the neck region. Results in loss of feeling and power in the affected parts.

Speech Impairment

Speech disabilities can involve a number of processes in the production of sound. These can include stuttering, difficulty projecting one's voice and difficulty expressing thoughts in spoken words (known as aphasia). Tension in oral discussions and group work can be particularly distressing for employees with speech disabilities.

Stroke

When an artery within the brain becomes blocked or an artery bursts and bleeds within the brain, causing sudden injury the result can be impairment of thinking, speech, movement and the senses. In severe stroke there may be paralysis, loss of feeling, problems with eating, washing, dressing and toileting, changes in behaviour, extremes of emotions. Recovery varies depending on severity.

Vision Impairment

Vision impairment can result in either partial loss of sight (low vision) or complete loss (blindness). There are many causes of vision impairment - it can be a condition from birth (either complete of progressive loss), from an accident, or from an illness. Some people require glasses and magnification equipment or a guide-dog.