Palmar grasp: Using only fingers, not the thumb, to grasp an object in the palm of the hand.

Palsy or Paralysis: Problems in the control of voluntary movement.

Paralysis: Loss or impairment of muscle function.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA): A community of school group consisting of teachers and parents working together to
improve education.

Parent-professional partnership: The teaming of parents and teachers (or doctors, nurses, or other professionals) to work together to facilitate the development of babies and children with special needs.

Paresis or plegia: Weakness or paralysis. In cerebral palsy, these terms are typically combined with another phrase that describes the distribution of paralysis and weakness, e.g., paraparesis.

Parkinson's Disease: A disease of part of the brain regulating muscle movement.

Patterning: A controversial technique in which a child's limbs are systematically and repeatedly manipulated (e.g. in a
crawling or walking pattern) by others in an attempt to imprint proper movement patterns upon the brain. Also
called the Doman-Delacato method.

Peptic Ulcer: A cavity in the lining of the stomach.

Periodontal: Relating to the gums and bones that surround the teeth.

Periventricular Leukomalasia (PVL): PVL is a type of brain injury involving an ischemic infarction (death of brain cells
due to inadequate blood circulation) of the white matter of the brain adjacent to the lateral ventricles. Peri means near;
ventricular refers to the ventricles or fluid spaces of the brain; leukomalasia is softening of the white matter of the
brain. The softening occurs because brain tissue in this area has died. Since PVL results in the loss of vital areas
of neural tissue, particularly motor fibers that control muscle movements, cerebral palsy (CP) develops in most
cases. It is likely to be of a moderate to severe degree and either spastic diplegia or spastic quadriplegia, with the
legs more involved than the upper extremities. Mild to severe mental retardation may occur, but some children with
PVL.

PET Scan: A brain imaging methodology which produces pictures of brain metabolic activities.

Petit mal seizures: See Absence seizures.

Phalanges: The bones of fingers or toes.

Phenobarbital: An anticonvulsant medication; also, a sedative.

Phenol: Phenol is injected into the nerves or muscles to weaken or paralyze very spastic muscles.

Phenol Block: Phenol blocks are similar to Botox injections. Phenol has been used for the past 20 years, but has certain
disadvantages when compared with Botox. The injections are quite painful, and may cause muscle tenderness for
several days. There is also a small amount of permanent muscle damage caused by the injections.

Phonation: Voice production.

Phoneme: Smallest unit of sound found in speech.

Phonetic: Relating to articulated sounds.

Physiatrist: A physician specializing in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; experts in the medical and physical treatment of disabling illnesses and injury.

Physical therapist (PT): A therapist who who assess and treats problems with gross motor skills.

Physical Therapy (PT): A clinical program aimed at improving motor skills, particularly gross motor skills.

Pincer grasp: The use of the thumb and forefinger to grasp small objects .

Placement: The selection of the educational program for a child who needs special education programs.

Plantar flexion: Downward pointing motion of the foot.

Plantar surface: Sole of the foot.

Postural responses: Infants at different ages will vary in how their body, arms, or legs respond when the infant is put in different positions. For example, a full-term newborn, when held with his or her face pointing down, will usually flex the back
(curve it downward toward the floor). If the response is straightening of the back at this early age, the infant may be
showing the first signs of cerebral palsy.

Posture: Positioning or alignment of the body.

Prader-Willi Syndrome: An uncommon, non-inherited birth defect with unknown causes. It is characterized by low muscle tone, insatiable appetite, developmental delays, variable degrees of mental retardation, short stature, in adults, small hands
and feet and behavior problems which can be severe.

Pragmatic: Understand how and why language is used.

Pre-Eclampsia: Development of hypertension, edema and protein loss in the urine in pregnant women. It occurs generally after the 20th week of pregnancy. It can proceed on to eclampsia.

Primitive reflexes: Early reflexes that usually disappear after about six months of age.

Prompt: Input that encourages a child to perform a movement or activity. See Cue.

Pronation: Turning inward of a hand or foot.

Prone: Lying on the stomach.

Proprioception: Sensory input from muscles and joints to the central nervous system.

Psychomotor (complex partial) seizures: Seizures which cause decreased alertness and changes in behavior.

Public Law 94-142: See IDEA

Pulmonary: Relating to the lungs.

Pulmonary Disease: A disease of the lungs. e.g. pneumonia.