Glossary

• Ageusia

  Partial/total loss of taste

• Amnesia

  Partial/total loss of ability to remember.

• Anaesthetist

  Anaesthetists specialise in the relief of pain, most commonly in the context of surgery.

• Aneurism

  A balloon-like deformity in the wall of a blood vessel.

• Anomia

  Difficulty finding words.

• Anosmia

  Loss of smell.

• Anoxia (hypoxia)

  Lack of oxygen supply to the brain.

• Anticonvulsant

  Medication to reduce frequency of seizures.

• Ataxia

  Unsteadiness of movement.

• Behaviour modification

  Therapy that uses the principle of learning, aims to change behaviour using reward/consequence.

• Brain Plasticity

  The brain’s ability to take over functions of damaged cells.

• Burr hole

  A hole drilled in to the skull.

• Cardiologist

  Specialist doctor who diagnoses and treats conditions of the heart.

• Clinical Neuropsychologists

  Are concerned with changes that occur following damage to, or disease of, the nervous system.

• Clinical Psychologists

  Are primarily concerned with the assessment and treatment of emotional and psychiatric problems in adult mental health (including rehabilitation and psychological therapy).

• Cognitive Abilities

  Mental abilities such as thinking, remembering, concentrating.

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

  A form of psychological therapy based on learning theory principles.

• Coma

  State of unconsciousness.

• Concussion

  Unconsciousness after a blow to the head.

• Consultant Psychiatrist

  Doctor with specialist experience and qualifications in mental illness and emotional disorders.

• Contusion

  A bruise caused by a blow with a blunt object.

• Craniotomy

  Occurs when a hole is made in the skull in order that surgeons can access the brain.

• Cranium

  Bony skill (intracranial – inside the skull).

• CT scan

  A series of x-rays which build up a 3D image of the inside of the body.

• Dementia

  Impaired thinking, damaged intellectual functioning.

• Dermatologist

  Specialist who diagnoses and treats disorders of the skin.

• Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI)

  Widespread tearing of nerve fibres across the entire brain.

• Diplopia

  Double vision.

• Disinhibition

  Difficulty controlling urges, impulsions to speak, act or emote.

• Dysphagia

  Difficulty swallowing.

• Edema

  Swelling of the brain.

• EEG

  Electrodes are attached to the scalp to measure the electrical activity, waves, in the brain.

• Embolism

  Blockage of an artery by a clot.

• Encephalitis

  Inflammation of the brain due to infection.

• Endocrinologist

  Specialist who treats disorders of the hormonal systems.

• ENT

  Surgery of the ear, nose and throat.

• Epilepsy

  Abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

• Executive functions

  Include planning, organising, problem solving.

• Gastroenterology

  Medical field specialising in the function and disorders of the stomach, intestines and related organs of the gastrointestinal tract.

• Gastrostomy

  An opening in the stomach for administration of foods and fluids.

• General Practitioner (GP)

  Local doctor, who will usually be the first person you see if you have a physical or emotional problem.

• General Surgeon

  A doctor who has training and expertise in performing a variety of operations.

• Glasgow Coma Scale (GSC)

  A scale for measuring level of consciousness.

• Gynaecologist

  Specialist in the diagnosis of and treatment of conditions relating to the female genital tract reproductive system.

• Haematology

  Medical speciality relating to the blood and blood forming tissues.

• Haematoma

  Bleeding on the brain that leads to the collection of ‘pools’ or ‘clots’.

• Haemorrhage

  Bleeding/blood loss.

• HRCT Scan

  Is high-resolution computerised tomography scanning that uses x-rays to produce detailed images of the inside of the body.

• Hydrocephalus

  Accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within the brain.

• Hypoxia

  Reduced availability of oxygen to body tissues.

• ICP (Intracranial Pressure) monitoring

  Insertion of a bolt in to the skull which is connected to a gauge via a catheter, it then registers the amount of pressure within the skull

• Infarct

  An area of the brain where cells have died

• Maxillofacial

  Surgery to the face and jaw.

• MRI scan

  Strong magnetic fields and radio waves used to produce a detailed image of the body.

• Multi-disciplinary team (MDT)

  A team of health and social care staff.

• Nasogastric Tube

  Fine tube that is passed through the nose and down the throat into the stomach, used for feeding.

• Neurology

  This is the study of the brain, the nervous system and its diseases.

• Neuropsychiatrist

  A doctor who specialises in the relationship between neurological processes and psychiatric disorders.

• Neuroradiologist

  A specialist radiologist who uses imaging techniques, such as x-rays, to diagnose diseases/injuries of the nervous system

• Neurorehabilitation

  A complex medical process that aims to aid recovery from an injury to the nervous system.

• Neurosurgery

  Surgery of the brain and the nervous system, including spinal surgery.

• Nystagmus

  Jerking of the eyes following damage to the brain stem.

• Occupational Therapist (OT)

  Will work with an individual to develop their skills and confidence in everyday life.

• Oedema

  Swelling caused by excess fluid in tissues.

• Oncologist

  A doctor specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

• Ophthalmology

  Surgery of the eye and the orbit.

• Orthopaedics

  Surgery of bones, joints and locomotion.

• Otologist

  Doctor who specialises in problems of the ear, nose and throat and has additional training in the medical and surgical management of dizziness, hearing loss and tumours of the ear.

• Paediatrician

  A doctor specialising in children’s medicine.

• Paralysis

  Loss of ability of muscles to contract.

• Paraplegia

  Loss of movement and sensation of the lower part of the body.

• Persistent Vegetative State

  Condition where the patient does not speak, follow commands or make any meaningful responses.

• PET Scan

  Positron Emission Topography, maps blood flow in brain.

• Physiotherapy

  The treatment of disease, injury or deformity by physical methods such as exercise, heat treatment or massage.

• Plastic and reconstructive surgery

  This includes sub-specialities of burns surgery, including critical care and cosmetic surgery.

• Post-traumatic Amnesia (PTA)

  Inability to remember events after a blow to the head.

• Proprioception

  Perception of the position and movement of the body, limbs and head.

• Prosthetic

  Is an artificial device that replaces a missing part of the body.

• Prosthetist

  An expert in prosthetics.

• Psychiatrists

  Medical practitioners who may use a full range of treatments, drugs and physical methods.

• Psychologists

  They are not medically qualified but have professional training. They have a first degree in psychology and have undertaken further professional training in a specific area of psychology.

• Psychometric Tests

  Tests which measure mental functioning.

• Psychotherapy

  Is the treatment of mental disorders and behavioural issues using verbal and non-verbal communication.

• Respiratory Physician

  A doctor that deals with the respiratory system, e.g. lungs, windpipe etc.

• Retrograde Amnesia

  Inability to remember events that happened for a period before a blow to the head.

• Rheumatologist

  A specialist in the treatment of disorders of the connective tissues, e.g. arthritis.

• Quadriplegia (Tetraplegia)

  Complete or semi-paralysis to all four limbs following injury to the neck.

• Shunt

  A device to remove excess fluid or divert blood.

• Speech & Language Therapists

  Assess and treat speech, language and communication problems, as well as those who have difficulty feeding, chewing and swallowing.

• Spinal Surgeon

  Doctor who specialises in conditions and surgery affecting the spine.

• Tetraplegia (Quadriplegia)

  Complete or semi-paralysis to all four limbs following injury to the neck.

• Thrombosis

  Clot in a blood vessel.

• Tracheotomy

  A small operation that involves opening the windpipe for a plastic tube to be inserted to facilitate breathing when the windpipe is blocked.

• Urology

  A urological surgeon deals with surgery of the kidney and drainage system, to include the ureter, the bladder and the urethra.

• Ventilator

  A machine that pumps oxygen-enriched air into the lungs when they are not working efficiently.

• Vocational Rehabilitation

  Provides training in a specific field with the aim of gaining employment.

• Legal Terms

• Civil Law

  The area of law covering disputes you may have with a person or organisation.

• Claimant

  A person making a claim.

• Client

  Someone who uses services provided by a lawyer or another.

• Compensation

  Recompense for loss, injury or suffering.

• Damages

  An award, typically of money, paid to a person or organisation for loss or injury.

• Defendant

  A person or organisation against whom a claim is being brought.

• Disbursement

  Fees that are paid to organisation as required as part of legal services, e.g. court fee, medical fee.

• Instructing

  Authorising a lawyer to represent you, an instruction describes the type of work that you want them to carry out.

• Intestate

  Any person who dies without leaving a will is said have died intestate.

• Lawyer

  According to the SRA Code of Conduct 2011, a member of one of the following professions entitled to practise as such;

  • The profession of solicitor, barrister or advocate of the UK
  • A profession whose members are authorised to carry on legal activities by an approved regulator other than the SRA
  • An Establishment Directive profession other than a UK profession
  • A legal profession which has been approved by the SRA for the purpose of recognised bodies in England & Wales
  • Any other regulated legal profession specified by the SRA for the purpose of this definition

• Legal Executive

  A lawyer regulated by CILEX Professional Standards.

• Legal Services

  Services provided to clients, e.g. legal advice or representation at court.

• Liable

  When someone is legally responsible for something.

• Liability

  Something that a person is responsible for.

• Litigation

  The contest process before a court.

• Out-of-court settlement

  An agreement between the two sides to settle the case privately before the court makes its decision.

• Solicitor

  A lawyer who has been admitted as a solicitor by the SRA and whose name appears on the roll of solicitors.

• Third party

  A term used to describe someone other that the two sides in a particular situation.

• Trainee solicitor

  A person completing their training requirements in law firm before applying to become a solicitor.