lalia

Lalia is a term used in linguistics and clinical neurology to denote speech-related phenomena. In contemporary usage it is not typically an independent diagnosis; instead, it appears in compound terms that describe abnormal vocalization.

The most common forms are palilalia and echolalia. Palilalia refers to the involuntary repetition of the speaker’s own words or phrases, often with increasing speed and decreasing volume. It can occur in association with tic disorders such as Tourette syndrome and with various neurological conditions, including Parkinsonian syndromes and some forms of dementia or aphasia.

Echolalia is the automatic repetition of words or phrases spoken by another person. It is frequently described in autism spectrum disorders and in certain language or brain disorders, such as aphasia after stroke, as well as in some psychiatric conditions. Echolalia can be immediate, where the words are repeated right away, or delayed.

Other related speech phenomena use the same root but are less commonly discussed as standalone terms. In modern clinical practice, lalia-by-itself is rarely used to denote a specific syndrome; it is more often encountered as part of terminology describing abnormal speech patterns.

See also: glossolalia (speaking in tongues), palilalia, echolalia, speech disorders such as stuttering and aphasia.