7. Glossary

Age Related Forgetfulness

Sometimes called "Age Appropriate Forgetfulness" or "Age Related Memory Loss".

People with age related forgefulness have impaired memory issues that can be a normal part of healthy aging. They may take longer to learn new things, forget something but remember it later, or occasionally forget particular words. (This differs from dementia where forgetfulness is due to a disorder and is more pronounced.)

Alternative and Augmentative Communication System

Sometimes called “AAC”.

Any method, device, or application that can be used to help those who cannot use spoken language and need additional support by means of symbols, images, and/or text. For example, a screen with symbols that the user can select to speak the appropriate words or add them to a document.

Anxiety Disorders

People who have anxiety disorders struggle with intense and uncontrollable feelings of anxiety, fear, worry, and/or panic. This is more than just feeling worried once in a while. This may last for a long time and can interfere with daily activities, such as concentration and executive function.

Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) disorder, AD(H)D

Sometimes called “attention deficit disorder”, “ADD”, and “attention deficit hyperactivity disorder”, “ADHD”.

Attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder or AD(H)D involves difficulty focusing on a single task, focusing for longer periods, or being easily distracted. It is marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development.

Autistic

Sometimes called “autism spectrum disorder”, “ASD”, “autism”, “asperger syndrome”, and “pervasive developmental disorder”.

Autistic people have some degree of impaired social behavior, communication and language abilities. This may also impact the person’s ability to regulate behavior and attention. Individuals can have a narrow range of interests and activities and they may rely on alternative communication methods. Some individuals may also experience episodes of sensory overload. See neurodiversity for an alternative approach to autism and learning and cognitive disabilities.

Brain Injury

Brain injury including, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and acquired brain injury (ABI), are caused by damage to the brain which can lead to long-term impairment of executive function, memory, learning, coordination, speech, and emotions as well as other physical and sensory impairments.

Brain injury can have many different causes such as a concussion or stroke, and can happen at any stage of life.

Cognitive and Learning Disabilities

May include: cognitive disabilities, learning disabilities (LD), intellectual disabilities and specific learning disability.

Cognitive disabilities and learning disabilities can mean different things in different locations. Taken together they refer to:

• significantly reduced ability in one or more areas of cognitive function that affect learning, such as communication, reading, writing, or math. Note overall intelligence is often not affected and people may function any level in other areas of learning. (Sometimes called learning disability or specific learning disability), and / or
• significantly reduced ability to understand new or complex information and learn new skills, with a reduced ability to cope independently. (Sometimes called cognitive disability, learning disability or intellectual disability), and / or
• significantly reduced memory and attention or visual, language, or numerical thinking.

Early Stage Dementia

Common impairments of early stage dementia include memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word. These may appear before a diagnosis of dementia. At this stage, these symptoms are often mild.

Easy to Understand Language

Sometimes called: “easy reading”, “easy to read”, “plain language”, “easy to understand”.

Easy to Understand Language refers to text content that is in an accessible, easy to understand, form. It is often useful for people with learning disabilities, and is easier for many other people as well.

Executive Function

The group of cognitive processes and skills required for planning, fulfilling tasks, and goals. It includes working memory and remembering details, impulse inhibition, organizing tasks, managing time, fluid reasoning, and solving problems.

Interactive Voice Response

Interactive voice response (IVR) systems allow the user to interact with a computer system through the use of a telephone keypad and/or audio input. Audio input can include speech, non-speech vocalizations or audio produced by AAC or other devices. Interactive voice response systems are often used to automate tasks by phone and in call centers. IVR systems often use standards such as VoiceXML [voicexml21].

Memory Impairment

Memory impairment refers to an inability to recognize or recall pieces of information or skills that are usually remembered. It can affect:

• Working memory that holds information while it is processed. For example, we rely on working memory for tasks such as copying a number.
• Short-term Memory that stores information for a short time before it is stored in long-term memory. For example, we may rely on short-term memory to remember the location of menus items between web pages.
• Long-term Memory that holds information long term, such as information from personal events, language, and information. For example, we may rely on long-term memory to recall past events.

Mental Health

May include: mental heath impairments.

Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. A mental health impairment/condition generally has some combination of disturbed thoughts, emotions, and ability to relate to others that impairs daily functioning. Examples include depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. These conditions may cause temporary or long term issues with accessing information, such as difficulty focusing on information, processing information, or understanding it.

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) can involve problems with memory, language, thinking, and judgment that are greater than normal age-related challenges. It is sometimes considered the stage between the common and expected age related forgetfulness and the more serious decline of dementia, although many or most people with MCI will not develop dementia.

Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity is a term that refers to the different ways the brain can work and interpret information. It highlights that people naturally think about things differently. Autistic people, attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder (AD(H)D), dyslexia, and people with other diagnoses or labels may prefer the term “neurodiverse” as they are part of normal and healthy variation in the human population, bringing diverse skills and perspectives.

Voice User Interfaces

Sometimes called: Conversational interfaces.

Voice user interfaces (VUIs) allow the user to interact with a computer system based on audio input and/or output. Audio input can include speech, non-speech vocalizations or audio produced by AAC or other devices. Audio-based interaction may include both input from the user, and output from the system in response to the input. Examples include: Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa.