Psychiatric Assessment and Fundamentals Q 21
Nurse Perry is aware that language development in autistic child resembles:
A. Scanning speech
B. Speech lag
C. Stuttering
D. Echolalia
Correct Answer: D. Echolalia
The autistic child repeats sounds or words spoken by others. Echolalia is a unique form of speech, and if the child has autism it may be one of the first ways in which the child uses speech to communicate. Thus, while it can be described as a symptom of autism, it can also be a great place for a parent or speech-language therapist to start working with the child.
Option A: Scanning speech is a type of ataxic dysarthria in which spoken words are broken up into separate syllables, often separated by a noticeable pause, and spoken with varying force. Scanning speech, like other ataxic dysarthrias, is a symptom of lesions in the cerebellum. It is a typical symptom of multiple sclerosis, and it constitutes one of the three symptoms of Charcot’s neurologic triad.
Option B: Speech delay, also known as alalia, refers to a delay in the development or use of the mechanisms that produce speech. Speech – as distinct from language – is the actual process of making sounds, using such organs and structures as the lungs, vocal cords, mouth, tongue, teeth, etc. Language delay refers to a delay in the development or use of the knowledge of language.
Option C: People who stutter may have more disfluencies and different types of disfluencies. They may repeat parts of words (repetitions), stretch a sound out for a long time (prolongations), or have a hard time getting a word out (blocks). Stuttering is more than just disfluencies. Stuttering also may include tension and negative feelings about talking. It may get in the way of how you talk to others. You may want to hide your stuttering. So, you may avoid certain words or situations. For example, you may not want to talk on the phone if that makes you stutter more.