Early development: Development during the first three years of life.

Easter Seal Society: A national, not-for-profit organization providing services for people with disabilities.

Echolalia: A parrot-like repetition of phrases or words just heard (immediate echolalia), or heard hours, days, weeks, or even months ago (delayed echolalia).

Eclampsia: The occurrence of convulsions in a pregnant woman, often preceded by pre-eclampsia.

Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA): The original name for the Education of Individuals with
Disabilities Act.

Efferent: Originating from the central nervous system, a nerve impulse which travels to a nerve or muscle.

Electrical Stimulation: The use of electrical stimulation in the treatment of muscle spasticity and tendon contracture associated with cerebral palsy has been used by a number of clinicians over many years. The desired effects of electrical stimulation were increased muscle strength and greater mobility of restricted joint motion.

Electroencephalogram (EEG): A record of brain electrical activity.

Electromyogram: A record of activity in muscles, used in diagnosing muscle and nerve disorders.

Electromyography: A recording technique that detects muscle activity.

Electrotherapy: A type of therapy in which electrical impulses are used to stimulate muscle contractions in an attempt to
strengthen muscles.

Embryo: A fertilized egg; in humans, less than 16 weeks of development.

Engagement: The ability to remain focused on, and responsive to, a person or object.

Epilepsy: Epilepsy is a general term used for a convulsive disorder with repeated episodes of symptoms ranging from
momentary loss of consciousness, the repetitive movement of a particular limb or other part of the body, to an
overall body convulsion.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Nondiscrimination in hiring, firing, compensation, promotion, recruitment, training, and
other terms and conditions of employment regardless of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin or disability.

Equilibrium: Balance.

Equine Therapy: See Hippotherapy.

Equinus: Walking on toes due to a shortening of the calf muscles.

Esophagus: The tube through which food travels from the pharynx to the stomach.

Esotropia: A condition in which the eye(s) turns inward. A form of strabismus.

Essential Functions: Fundamental job duties that one must be able to perform with or without a reasonable accommodation.The term essential functions does not include marginal functions of the position.

Estate planning: Formal, written arrangements for handling the possessions and assets of people after they have died.

Etiology: The cause(s) of a disease.

Eversion: When a body part turns out, away from the body.

Exotropia: A condition in which an eye turns outward. A form of strabismus.

Expressive language: The ability to use gestures, words, and written symbols to communicate.

Extension: The straightening or extended of the limbs or trunk ; the opposite of flexion.