A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W XYZ

UA

See urinalysis.

UAF

University affiliated facility. See university affiliated program.

UAP

See university affiliated program.

UCBL

Shoe-insert-type orthosis (corrective appliance); named for the original brand, University of California Biomechanics Laboratory.

UCP

See United Cerebral Palsy.

ulna

The thinner of the two bones of the forearm (see also radius).

ulnar grasp

Simian grasp; an immature grasp pattern in which the object is apprehended from the side of the hand farthest from the thumb.

umbilical hernia

A weakening of the abdominal wall leading to a bulging and a protrusion of the abdominal contents outward at the site of the umbilicus. The hernia remains well covered with skin, causes no discomfort, docs not become incarcerated or strangulated, and usually closes off spontaneously by 2 years of age.

umbilicus

Navel; belly button.

uncinate fit

Olfactory (related to the sense of smell) hallucinations associated with temporal lobe tumors or seizures. These are described as the perception of unpleasant but usually unidentifiable odors.

unconditioned reflex

Inborn, biological, permanent reactions of organisms to environmental stimuli, mediated by the nervous system.

unfisted

A tendency of infants' hands to remain open at rest for more than half of the time; in contrast to the earlier fisting, this becomes the preferred hand posture after 3 months of age.

unidisciplinary

An approach to the diagnosis and treatment of developmental disabilities that focuses almost exclusively on the contribution by a single professional discipline or specialty; not a team approach.

unilateral

Pertaining to one side of the body.

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP)

A national voluntary association of state and local affiliates along with the national organization, United Cerebral Palsy Associations (UCPA), that provides and coordinates direct services and formulates national policies for providing services for children and adults with cerebral palsy. Standards, advocacy, research, and training represent additional goals and activities. Founded in 1948.

university affiliated program (UAP)

A national network of programs affiliated with universities and teaching hospitals that provides interdisciplinary training for professionals and paraprofessionals in the field of developmental disabilities and offers programs and services for children with disabilities and their families. Some UAPs provide direct services, whereas individual UAPs have staffs with expertise in a variety of areas and can furnish information, technical assistance, and in-service training to community agencies, service providers, parent groups and others. UAPs that received building construction monies were originally referred to as UAFs (university affiliated facilities).

untoward reaction

Harmful side effect.

upper extremity

Arm; forearm and hand.

upper/lower segment ratio

Distance from the top of the head to the pubic bone divided by the distance from the pubic hone to the sole of the foot. This ratio is 1.7 at birth; 1.0 at 10 years of age: and just below 1.0 in adults. The changes in this ratio are useful in the diagnosis of both endocrine and genetic growth disorders.

urea cycle defect

A group of genetic metabolic diseases, each representing a failure in one of the steps in the conversion of ammonia to urea. Symptoms associated with the resulting hyperammonemia include recurrent episodes of lethargy, vomiting, seizures, and mental retardation. Four of the five enzyme deficits are inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. Dialysis is used in the acute stage to reduce the hyperammonenia; drugs, low-protein diets, and amino acid supplements can then be used to regulate the ammonia level depending on the type and severity of the disorder.

Urecholine

See bethanechol.

urinalysis (UA)

A group of visual, physical, and chemical tests performed on urine specimens. As a routine screening test, urinalysis is rarely successful in detecting asymptomatic (without symptoms) kidney or other disease.

urinary tract infection (UTI)

A bladder infection; symptoms include urinary frequency and urgency, dysuria (pain and discomfort on urination), fever, and malaise. Recurrent UTIs in children with disability syndromes should raise the suspicion of either an underlying genitourinary malformation or sexual abuse. UTIs during pregnancy have a nonspecific association with an increased incidence of mental retardation in the baby.

Usher syndrome

A genetic syndrome with congenital nonprogressive sensorineural (involving the inner ear or the auditory nerve) hearing loss of variable severity, retinitis pigmentosa (night blindness and progressively restricted visual field), and loss of olfactory (sense of smell) and vestibular (balance) functions. Neuropsychiatric difficulties occur in 25% of cases. Inheritance is autosomal recessive (rarely, X-linked) with an incidence of 3 in 100,000. The syndrome accounts for approximately 5% of children with severe hearing loss and half of all adults with deafness and blindness. Named for the Scottish ophthalmologist Charles Usher (1865-1942).

Utah Test of Language Development-Third Edition (UTLD-3)

A language test for typical children and children with disabilities ages 3-0 to 10-11; it yields subtest standard scores for language comprehension and language expression as well as a language quotient. Administration time is 30-45 minutes.

UTI

See urinary tract infection.

UTLD-3

See Utah Test of Language Development-Third Edition.

Uzgiris-Hunt Scales

See Ordinal Scales of Infant Psychological Development.