Category: A

A pattern of genetic inheritance in which both copies of a particular gene pair need to carry the same trait (such as blue eyes) for a trait to be expressed. Among the genetic disorders that are of the autosomal recessive type are phenylketonuria, galactosemia, and albinism. An inheritance pattern in which both copies of a…

A pattern of genetic inheritance in which only one copy of a particular gene needs to be present for a trait (such as brown eyes) to be expressed; though a person may carry two genes for the same dominant trait, only one is needed. Among the genetic disorders that are of the autosomal dominant type…

A type of agnosia involving inability to recognize or localize parts of one’s own body.  

The annual passing of a student from grade to grade through a school, regardless of the student’s academic performance.  

Disorders that result from malfunctioning of the body’s immune system, which mistakenly attacks the body’s tissues or organs, regarding then as foreign invaders. Among the autoimmune disorders that are commonly found among young people are rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus (Type 1), systemic lupus erythematosus, a disorder of the thyroid gland (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis), a disorder of…

A set of overlapping skills that involve the ears and hearing; closely related to communication skills.  

The nerve that actually carries electrical signals representing sound vibrations from the inner ear to the brain. Malfunctioning of the auditory nerve leads to sensorineural loss, a significant ear and hearing problem. One of a pair of major sensory nerves, the eighth cranial nerves, that carry impulses from the inner ear to the brain for…

The amount of time someone can concentrate on a task without losing interest in or being distracted from it. Increasing attention span is one of the skills a young child develops gradually; however, children with learning disabilities and some other developmental disorders may have heightened distractibility, perhaps as part of a complex of problems known…

Ability to pay attention to a task, including alertness, focusing, vigilance, and selection from among various stimuli.  

In education, the presence of a student in school or in a school-sponsored activity on a day when the school is considered in session. Under compulsory attendance laws, children are required to be present when school is in session, except when having a valid excuse. An attendance or truant officer is normally assigned in the…