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• Glossary of Terms

Glossary of Terms 

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Echolalia	Imitation of sounds or words without comprehension. Is a normal stage of language development in infants, but is abnormal in adults.
Edema	Collection of fluid in the tissue causing swelling.
Education Program	Primary emphasis is on primary, secondary and higher education programs. Realistic academic goals are set, based upon professional knowledge of deficits resulting from head injury.
EEG/Electroencephalogram	A procedure that uses electrodes on the scalp to record electrical activity of the brain. Used for detection of epilepsy, coma and death.
ECG/EKG/Electrocardiogram	Usually three small, round electrode pads located on the patient's chest to monitor heart rate and rhythm. These are connected to a monitor and used routinely in the intensive care unit.
EMG/Electromyography	An insertion of electrodes into muscles to study the electrical activity of muscle and nerve fibers. It may be somewhat painful to the patient. Helps diagnosis partial denervation.
Embolism	The sudden blocking of an artery or a vein by a blood clot, bubble of air, deposit of oil or fat, or small mass of cells deposited by the blood flow.
Emotional Liability	Exhibiting rapid and drastic changes in emotional state (laughing, crying, anger) without apparent reason.
Employment Program	Primary emphasis is on vocational rehabilitation services that are designed to lead to an employment goal. Services range from assessment to basic on the job supports.
Encephalography	Non-invasive use of ultrasound waves to record echoes from brain tissue. Used to detect hematoma, tumor, ventricle problems.
Endotrachial Tube	A tube that serves as an artificial airway and is inserted through the patient's mouth or nose. It passes through the throat and into the air passages to help breathing. To do this it must also pass through the patient's vocal cords. The patient will be unable to-speak as long as the endotrachial tube is in place. It is this tube that connects the respirator to the patient.
Engram	A lasting mark or trace. The term is applied to bioelectrical trace associated with storage of a memory in the nervous system.
Equilibrium	Normal balance reactions and postures.
Error Correction	Should follow error recognition and refers to the ability to replace an inappropriate response with an appropriate one.
Error Recognition	Refers to a patient's awareness that a response is inappropriate for a task. The patient may simply state, for example, "I know this is wrong", or show a confused, quizzical look after making an inappropriate response.
Evaluation Program	Comprehensive assessment of the problems and capabilities of an individual complete with recommendations for dealing with the problems.
Evoked Potential	Registration of the electrical response of brain cells as detected by electrodes placed on the surface of the head at various places. The evoked potential, unlike the waves on an EEG, is elicited by a specific stimulus applied to the visual, auditory or other sensory receptors of the body. Evoked potentials are used to diagnose a wide variety of central nervous system disorders.
Evoked Responses, Brain Stem	Auditory brain stem responses provoked by discrete sounds delivered to the ears through headphones. These sound waves are converted to nerve impulses by receptors in the ear. A machine is used to test whether the brain stem has received the signals. The quality of the brain stem's response in a comatose patient is thought to be an important indicator of the degree and site of brain injury. Because this test requires very specialized and expensive equipment, it is not available at all hospitals. A more common test is the EEG.
Executive Functions	Planning, prioritizing, sequencing, self-monitoring, self-correcting, inhibiting, initiating, controlling or altering behaviour.
Extended Care Facility	A residential facility for the patient who requires 24 hour nursing care (IV, intramuscular injections, special feeding tubes, skin care, oxygen) or rehabilitation therapy, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy on a less intensive basis than as an inpatient in a comprehensive rehabilitation centre. An extended care facility is usually a short-term alternative (2-3 months) prior to placement at home (with outpatient therapy) or in a nursing home.
Extremity	Arm or leg.
Eye Tape	Tape used to close the eyes of a patient who has lost the ability to blink. To protect the eyes and to prevent them from drying out, eye drops may be put into the eyes and the eye tapes may be used to close them.

Click here for the printable "Glossary of Terms". 

Material for the glossary was provided by the Ontario Brain Injury Association (OBIA).