Parrot-like repetition of words spoken by another person is known as?

Appeared in: JODHPUR AIIMS SNO-2018

Explanation

Echolalia is the unsolicited and automatic repetition of another person's vocalizations (words, phrases, etc.).
The term originates from the Greek roots 'echo' (to repeat) and 'lalia' (speech), literally meaning 'echo speech'.
It is not a disorder in itself but a clinical sign associated with various conditions, including autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia (particularly catatonic type), Tourette syndrome, and certain forms of aphasia or brain injury.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option B: Neologism is the creation of new, often meaningless words that only have meaning to the person who uses them. This is a disorder of thought content, not the repetition of another's speech.
Option C: Echopraxia is the involuntary imitation or repetition of another person's movements or actions. The key difference is that it involves motor actions, not speech.
Option D: Dyscalculia is a specific learning disability that affects a person's ability to understand number-based information and manipulate numbers. It is related to mathematics, not speech patterns.

Related Visual

A simple chart with three columns illustrating the difference between Echolalia, Echopraxia, and Neologism. Column 1 shows a nurse asking a question. Column 2 shows a patient wi...

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Disorders of Speech and Thought as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses must accurately identify and document speech patterns like echolalia, as they are important diagnostic clues for underlying psychiatric or neurological disorders.
When communicating with a patient exhibiting echolalia, using simple, direct, and short sentences can be more effective and less likely to trigger repetitive speech.
It's crucial to differentiate echolalia from intentional repetition; echolalia is automatic and not a sign of defiance or mockery.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key action described in the question stem: 'Parrot-like repetition of words'.
Break down the definitions of the options. Pay attention to the root words: 'lalia' for speech, 'praxia' for action, 'calculia' for calculation, and 'neo-' for new.
Echolalia combines 'echo' and 'lalia' (speech), which directly matches the 'repetition of words'.
Echopraxia combines 'echo' and 'praxia' (action), indicating repetition of actions, which is different.
Neologism means 'new word', and Dyscalculia relates to 'difficulty with calculation'.
By matching the definition from the stem to the most fitting term, you can confidently select the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Disorders of Speech and Thought
Stem keywords: Parrot-like repetition, words, spoken by another person
Lead-in keywords: known as
Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

QB2cBupbQf2S4bJq0TJsUy

Reference Book

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 15337-15339

E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) p. 3566-3568

Practise the full JODHPUR AIIMS SNO-2018

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.

Attempt this paper Attempt in the NPrep app