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Uncontrolled word repetition?

Fri, 09/08/2006 - 08:09
I had a strange "episode" yesterday & I don't know whether it was a seizure or not... First off - it was a very stressfull day at work, so I was super busy and felt frazzled from the chaos. I was also hungry (I'm 3.5 mos pregnant) and I was about to take a very late lunch break. I had felt a seizure building all day - In fact I had called my husband to see when he would be home (he was traveling). While standing in the kitchen I said something to the cat - I cannot recall what I said, nor does it matter - but whatever the last word of the sentence was I got "STUCK" on it... I repeated it at least 5times. Like a tick, I had no way of stopping it. This has never happened before, I have no "ticks" I have never stuttered.... I was repeating the entire work, not stuttering. Afterwards I just felt ??? no words to describe - I don't know, maybe scared, a bit confused but coherent, frustrated as I didn't know why I had just done what I did..... So - - Was I tired, stressed & hungry and the stress manifested itself into a physical symptom? Or was it some type of seizure??? I'm not sure whether to mention it to my doctor or not. I am currently not on any medication (due to pregnancy). My seizures have been well controlled for several months. Let me know what you guys think! Thanks, Christine "CJ"

Comments

Re: Uncontrolled word repetition?

Submitted by slhmurphy on Fri, 2006-09-08 - 09:57
Christine, This phenomenon is known as echolalia. It is part of a group of communication problems that a person with brain lesions can develop. Echolalia occurs exactly as you have described. If this becomes common for you, or you are concerned about it, you should let your doctor know. If it makes you feel better, I have quite a few of these issues, though never echolalia. I have dysphasia, which is difficulty with speech production. Specifically I have dysgrammatism, or difficulty implementing the rules of grammar. I constantly speak as though I never learned an ounce of grammar, when in reality it was basically drilled into my head...So much for my parents hard work!!! I mix up tenses within the same sentence, which is irritating. I also have dysnomia, which is difficulty finding the word I'm trying to use (also referred to as "tip-of-the-tongue" phenomena). Other fun things include the paraphasias, where I substitute words (care for chair, which is phonemic, or related to the sound of the word; and arm for leg, which is semantic, or related to the same class of items). If you too have experienced any of these problems you should at least bring it to the attention of your doctor. Perhaps he will suggest neuropsychological testing to see how your brain is functioning right now (insofar as language and communication go). Any more questions? Ask away... Sam

Re: Uncontrolled word repetition?

Submitted by coopernicus on Thu, 2009-09-10 - 00:45

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