* Unless otherwise noted all entries are from the Medicare Glossary
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A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M
N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
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DEDUCTIBLE - The amount you must pay for health care before Medicare or an Insurer begins to pay.
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DELAYED LANGUAGE* - A language disorder in which there is a noticeable slowness in the development of the vocabulary and
grammar necessary for expressing and understanding thoughts and ideas.
* Our Special Kids.Org
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DELAYED SPEECH* - Failure of speech to develop at the expected age. More specifically: A deficit in speaking proficiency where the
individual performs like someone much younger.
* Our Special Kids.Org
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DEVELOPMENTAL* - Having to do with the steps or stages in growth and development before the age of 18.
* Our Special Kids.Org
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DIAGNOSIS - The name for the health problem that you have.
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DIAGNOSTIC AND STATISTICAL MANUAL (DSM)* - The offical manual listing psychiatric and psychological disorders. In order to recieve
a diagnosis you must show within a predetermined number of characteristics from each category.
* Our Special Kids.Org
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DISCHARGE PLANNING - A process used to decide what a patient needs for a smooth move from one level of care to another.
This is done by a social worker or other health care professional. It includes moves from a hospital to a nursing home or to home care.
Discharge planning may also include the services of home health agencies to help with the patient's home care.
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DISORDER* - A disturbance in normal functioning (mental, physical, or psychological).
* Our Special Kids.Org
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DOWN SYNDROME* - People with Down syndrome have an extra or irregular chromosome in some or all of their body's cells. The
chromosomal abnormalities impair physical and mental development. Most people with Down syndrome have distinctive physical features and mild
to moderate below-normal intelligence.
What causes Down syndrome?
The extra or irregular chromosomes related to Down syndrome result from abnormal cell division in the egg before or after it is fertilized by
sperm. Less often, the abnormal cell division occurs in sperm before conception. It is not known why the cells divide abnormally.
What are the signs?
Signs of Down syndrome usually appear at birth or shortly thereafter. Many children with the condition have a flat face, small ears and mouth,
and broad hands and feet, although these features vary from person to person. Most young children have a lack of muscle tone (hypotonia), which
generally improves by late childhood.
Often developmental disabilities result from the combination of a lower intelligence level and physical limitations related to Down syndrome.
Heart defects, intestinal abnormalities, and irregular ear and respiratory tract structures can also occur and cause additional symptoms or
lead to complications.
* WebMD Medical Library
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DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT (DME) - Medical equipment that is ordered by a doctor for use in the home. These items must be reusable,
such as walkers, wheelchairs, or hospital beds. DME is paid for under both Medicare Part A and
Medicare Part B for home health services.
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DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT REGIONAL CARRIER (DMERC) - A private company that contracts with Medicare to pay bills for durable medical
equipment.
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DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY - A legal document that enables you to designate another person, called the attorney-in-fact, to act on
your behalf, in the event you become disabled or incapacitated.
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DYSARTHRIA* - Dysarthria interferes with normal control of the speech mechanism. Speech may be slurred or otherwise difficult to
understand due to lack of ability to produce speech sounds correctly, maintain good breath control, and coordinate the movements of the lips, tongue,
palate, and larynx. Diseases such as Parkinson's and Multiple Sclerosis, strokes and accidents can cause dysarthria.
* WebMD Medical Library
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DYSGRAPHIA* - Extremely poor handwriting or the inability to perform the motor movements required for handwriting. The condition
is often associated with neurological dysfunction.
* Our Special Kids.Org
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DYSLEXIA* - A type of learning disability that affects reading ability. More specifically: the individual may have problems
remembering, recognizing , and or reversing written letters, numbers, and words, might read backwards, and have poor handwriting. The term is
frequently used when neurological dysfunction is suspected as the cause of the reading disability.
* Our Special Kids.Org
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DYSPRAXIA* - An inability to perform coordinated movements, although there is no apparent problem in the muscles or nerves. Can also be applied to speech and language functions.
* Our Special Kids.Org
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