echolalia
Pronunciation: ek-oh-LAY-lee-ah
Automatic repetition of words or phrases just heard, often seen in autism, dementia, and certain neurological conditions affecting language processing.
Full Definition
Echolalia is a speech phenomenon characterized by the immediate or delayed repetition of words, phrases, or sentences heard from others, without apparent understanding or communicative intent. The condition can be immediate (occurring within two turns of conversation) or delayed (repetition hours or days later). While normal in early language development, pathological echolalia occurs in various neurological and psychiatric conditions including autism spectrum disorders, Tourette syndrome, aphasia, and dementia. The behavior may serve different functions, from self-soothing to attempting communication when expressive language is impaired.
Usage
Usage note: Not hyphenated. Derived from Greek 'echo' and 'lalia' (speech).
In Context
- "The patient's echolalia became more prominent as her dementia progressed, repeating the last few words of each question." — Cognitive assessment report
- "Immediate echolalia was observed during the language evaluation, suggesting damage to frontal language circuits." — Speech pathology note