Glossary of terms: L

Language disorders

Thesaurus of psychological index terms

Disorders, usually due to cognitive or neurological dysfunction resulting in problems in symbolisation or in delays in language and speech development.

Language skills

DP

The use of language for communicative competence. The ability to use language as a tool to aid interaction within society, via communication with individuals and groups.

Learning disability

Education Act 1993

A permanent condition, arising during childhood or adolescence, characterised by a state if incomplete development of mind that includes significant impairments of intelligence and social functioning.

Lesch Nyhan syndrome

Online medical dictionary

Hyperuricaemia (high serum levels of uric acid) due to a defective gene. Patients with this syndrome are prone to have uric acid kidney stones and mental retardation.

Loners

Loners: the life path of unusual children, S Wolff

Solitary children who are unable to adapt to the social and educational demands of school life.

Lovaas method

Children with autism, Trevarthen et al

Intensive, behaviourally-based or training approach to working with young autistic children, based on the theories of Ivar Lovaas at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Related resources

• Education jargon (England and Wales)
  
• Education jargon (Scotland)
  

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