Volume 3, Number 2

1996 Indiana University - The Center for Adolescent Studies

Glossary

Attention Deficit Disorders (ADD): A disorder which causes the sufferers to have difficulty organizing work, be easily distracted, be impulsive, fail to follow instructions, pay attention to any activity for more than a very short time.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD): A form of ADD in which the person with the disorder also exhibits hyperactive behavior. The person with ADHD will also have problems sitting still.

Bulimia Nervosa: An eating disorder characterized by binge eating, purging behavior, and extreme preoccupation with weight and appearance. Bulimia can lead to conditions including: tooth decay, gum disease, malnutrition, electrolyte imbalances, and heart problems.

Depression: A condition caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain effects the mind and body causing a person to feel miserable in many ways. It may be characterized by persistent sadness, frequent complaints of physical illness, persistent boredom, decreased activity and increased irritability.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: A set of debilitating features - both physical and psychological - common to children whose mothers consumed large amounts of alcohol during her pregnancy.

Hyperactivity: A condition in which activity that is haphazard, not organized, not goal-oriented, and often repetitive.

Impulsivity: An inability to think before acting. Often this may cause person to answer inappropriately and be unable to wait to take turns in games.

Inattention: An inability to focus on one specific thing. Inattention causes a person to get bored with a task very quickly. Learning new things can be very difficult.

Learning Disabilities: A specific set of problems which cause a person to have difficulty in understanding.

Oppositional Defiance Disorder: A condition characterized by recurrent patterns or negative, defiant, disobedient, and hostile behavior. Often expressed by stubbornness, unwillingness to compromise, or deliberately annoying others. Generally the behavior is non-destructive/non-aggressive toward people and animals.

Suicidal: A state of mind where taking one's own life seems like the only solution to a problem.

Tourette's Syndrome: A genetic disorder characterized by uncontrollable repeated muscle movements and/or utterances such as rapid eye blinking or rapid jerking motions. Tourette's Syndrome often co-occurs with ADHD.