Glossary terms - E

Echocardiogram

An ultrasound examination of the heart.

Echolalia

The echoing or repetition of verbal utterances made by another person.

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

Test that measures and records in detail the electrical activity of the heart.

Electrode

An electrical conductor.

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Test that measures and records the electrical activity of the brain by using sensors (electrodes) attached to the head.

Electronic aids

Assistive devices, which employ technology to compensate for or overcome a disability. Examples include rehabilitative aids such as functional electrical stimulation (FES), adapted keyboards and computer touchscreens, voice amplifiers and speech synthesiser software, and low vision or navigational aids for people with visual impairments.

Embolism

The blockage of a blood vessel by an embolus—something previously circulating in the blood (such as a blood clot, air bubble, cholesterol, etc.).

Emotional lability

A state of emotional disinhibition, often temporary, which is brought on by stroke or other forms of damage to the brain. Emotional reactions and their expression are exaggerated and uncontrolled, eg. crying and laughing easily and sometimes inappropriately.

Emphysema

Emphysema is severe damage to the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs, where oxygen is absorbed and carbon dioxide breathed out, which is associated with chronic bronchitis, smoking and advancing age. The damage causes breathlessness which is made worse by infections. The patient may become dependent on oxygen given through a mask.

Endarterectomy

Surgical operation to remove obstructions (usually fatty tissue or blood clot) from inside an artery.

Enteral feeding

Feeding through a tube connected to the stomach (see: Naso-gastric tube and Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy or PEG).

Epilepsy

A neurological condition originating in the brain, which occurs in some cases following stroke. It is evidenced by fits (also known as seizures), which happen when normal brain activity is disrupted. In many cases can be controlled with anti-convulsant (anti-epileptic) drugs.

Extracranial-intracranial bypass

Surgery to restore blood flow to an area of brain tissue by re-routing a healthy artery in the scalp to the area of brain tissue affected by a blocked or narrowed artery.