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When you first become a special needs parent, you get A LOT of special needs acronyms thrown at you. Not only are you overwhelmed with your child’s diagnosis, but now you have to figure out what all these letters jumbled together even mean.

I wanted to create a list of some of the more common special needs acronyms that are used as a quick-start guide for helping new parents, grandparents, family, and friends of special needs children learn what these terms mean. I even googled them for you so you can quickly click and start reading about each one.

A Quick-Start Guide to Special Needs Acronyms

A.

2E: Twice Exceptional

AAC: Alternative Augmentative Communication

ABA: Applied Behavioral Analysis

ADD: Attention Deficit Disorder

ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

APD: Auditory Processing Disorder

ARFID: Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

ASD: Autism Spectrum Disorder

AT: Assistive Technology

B.

BD: Behavior Disorder

BI: Brain Injury

BIP: Behavior Intervention Plan

BP: Bipolar

BPD: Borderline Personality Disorder

C.

CA: Central Apnea

CAPD: Central Auditory Processing Disorder

CAS: Childhood Apraxia of Speech

CD: Conduct Disorder

CF: Cystic Fibrosis

CP: Cerebral Palsy

D.

DCD: Developmental Coordination Disorder

DD: Developmental Delay

DS: Down Syndrome

DX: Diagnosis

E.

EBD: Emotional Behavior Disorder

ED: Emotional Disturbance

EDS: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

EI: Early Intervention

EOE: Eosinophilic Esophagitis

F.

FASD: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

FBA: Functional Behavioral Assessment

G.

GAD: Generalized Anxiety Disorder

GDD: Global Developmental Delay

H.

HFA: High Functioning Autism

I.

ICD: Impulse Control Disorder

IED: Intermittent Explosive Disorder

ID: Intellectual Disability

IEP: Individualized Education Plan

IFSP: Individual Family Service Plan

L.

LD: Learning Disability

M.

MA: Mental Age

MD: Multiple Disabilities

MDD: Major Depressive Disorder

MH: Mental Health

N.

NT: Neurotypical

NPO: Nothing by Mouth

O.

OCD: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

ODD: Oppositional Defiant Disorder

OHI: Other Health Impairment

OSA: Obstructive Sleep Apnea

OT: Occupational Therapy

P.

PANDAS: Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder

PBS: Positive Behavioral Supports

PD: Physical Disability

PDD: Pervasive Developmental Disorder

PDD-NOS: Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified

PT: Physical Therapy

PTSD: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

R.

RAD: Reactive Attachment Disorder

RX: Prescription

S.

SAD: Social Anxiety Disorder

SB: Spina Bifida

SI: Speech Impairment

SLP: Speech Language Pathologist

SM: Selective Mutism

SPED: Special Education

SPD: Sensory Processing Disorder

SSI: Supplemental Security Income

T.

TBI: Traumatic Brain Injury

TS: Tourette Syndrome

V.

VI: Visual Impairment

How many of these Special Needs Acronyms do YOU know?