Common Acronyms

A collection of helpful terms for quick reference

Diagnosis Acronyms:

• CP – Cerebral Palsy
• HIE – Hypoxic Ischemic Encephelopathy
• IS – Infantile Spasms
• CVI – Cortical Visual Impairment/Inattentiveness
• DVM – Delayed Visual Maturation
• ID/LD – Intellectual/Learning Disabilities
• ASD – Autism Spectrum Disorder
• SPD – Sensory Processing Disorder
• AS – Asperger’s Syndrome
• GDD – Global Developmental Delay
• SQCP – Spastic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy
• GERD – Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Diagnostic Tools Acronyms:

• MRI – Magnetic resonance imaging
• EEG – Electroencephalogram

Medical Professionals Abbreviations:

• Ped – Pediatrician
• Neuro – Neurologist
• Ortho – Orthopedist
• GI – Gastroenterologist
• PM&R/PMR – Physiatrist or Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Care/Hospitalization Acronyms:

• NICU – Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (also called a SCBU)
• PICU – Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
• SCBU – Special Care Baby Unit (also called a NICU)

General Acronyms:

• NT – Neurologically (or Neuro) Typical
• SN – Special Needs

Equipment Acronyms:

• AFO – Ankle Foot Orthosis
• SMO – Supra Malleolar Orthosis (short ankle orthosis)
• KAFO – Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis
• SWASH brace – Sitting Walking And Standing Hip orthosis
• TLSO – Thoracolumbosacral orthosis
• CI – Cochlear Implant

Surgical Acronyms:

• SDR – Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy
• SPML – Selective Percutaneous Myofascial Lengthening

Feeding-Related Acronyms:

• NG/NGT – Nasal Gastric Tube
• PEG – Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastronomy
• G-Tube – Gastronomy Tube
• NPO – Nil Per Os (nil by mouth)
• Fundo – Nissan Fundoplication

Therapy-Related Acronyms:

• OT – Occupational Therapy
• PT – Physical Therapy
• ST – Speech Therapy
• SALT – Speech and Language Therapist
• ABM – Anat Baniel Method
• MNRI – Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Integration
• NDT – Neuro Developmental Training/Technique

Communication-Related Acronyms:

• AAC – Alternative Augmentative Communication
• AT – Assistive Technology

Education-Related Acronyms:

• IDEA – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
• EI – Early Intervention
• TC – Teacher Consultant
• IEP – Individualized Education Program/Plan
• IFSP – Individualized Family Service Program/Plan
• ECSE – Early Childhood Special Education
• ESD – Extended School Day
• FAPE – Free and Appropriate Education
• LRE – Least Restrictive Environment
• PI – Physical Impairment
• OHI – Other Health Impairment (many children with HIE are covered under EI with this)
• D/HH – Deaf and Hard of Hearing
• HI – Hearing Impaired
• DB – Deaf Blindness
• ECDD – Early Childhood Developmental Delay
• EI – Emotional Impairment
• SXI – Severe Multiple Impairment
• SLI – Speech and Language Impairment
• TBI – Traumatic Brain Injury (some states separate this out from a HIE event)
• VI – Visual Impairment
• CI – Cognitive Impairment