Definition

Noun: A speech disorder characterized by the involuntary and rapid repetition of a word or phrase, often with increasing speed and decreasing volume. It is a type of perseverative speech disturbance, typically associated with neurological conditions.

Usage

This is a technical, medical term used primarily in clinical, neurological, and speech-language pathology contexts. It describes a specific symptom rather than a casual speech pattern.

Examples

• The neurologist noted the presence of palilalia in the patient's speech, a common feature in some cases of Parkinson's disease.
• A key characteristic of palilalia is the repetition of a word, such as saying "hello-hello-hello" rapidly and without conscious control.
• The speech-language pathologist differentiated the patient's palilalia from other disorders like stuttering or echolalia.

Advanced Usage

• Clinical Assessment: In a diagnostic report, one might write: "The patient exhibits marked palilalia, particularly when under stress or fatigue."
• Symptom Description: It can be described in terms of its qualities: "The palilalia was palilalic in nature, with each repetition becoming quicker and quieter."

Variants and Related Words

• Palilalic (adjective): Relating to or characterized by palilalia.
  • The patient's speech had a palilalic quality.

Synonyms

• Perseverative speech (broader term)
• Speech repetition disorder (descriptive term)

Antonyms

• Fluency
• Normal speech prosody

Related Terms (Contextual)

• Echolalia: The involuntary repetition of another person's spoken words.
• Logoclonia: The repetition of the last syllable of a word.
• Perseveration: The continuation or repetition of a behavior, thought, or word beyond its appropriate context.

Noun

1. a pathological condition in which a word is rapidly and involuntarily repeated