Can someone please explain Palilalia to me?

[Pamela Kay]

I just read about this tic called palilalia which is the tendency to repeat phrases. Sometimes my oldest son, whom I thought showed no signs of tics, repeats phrases. For example he likes to tell me all about movies or books he has read and pretty much paraphrase the whole story. While doing so he will reapeat certain parts. For instance he will say Jack and Jill went up the. Jack and Jill went up the. Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. I always wondered why he did this since it can be difficult to focus on what he is saying. Now I am wondering if this could be a tic. Any thoughts?

[michele]

Hello. I know in a school IAT meeting the principal asked me if my son parroted from movies because he is very interested in them. After the fact, I realized he can recall and paraphrase movie lines, TV shows, and events from the past. He has a memory for past events that is startling. He starts with remember when...He can recall events from years ago exactly as they happened and he is only 6! He will go on and on about little details until you are bored stiff and just nod and say really. My other kids roll their eyes and try to tell him to be quiet but he gets mad when we interupt him. I think this is part of the OCD. Also he has marked likes and "quirks" like he talks about China alot, or body moles, or death sometimes. He will fit them into conversations at odd times. My friend said this can be an autistic characteristic also as her son is autistic and does this too. He son is stuck on Star Wars and parrotts lines from the show.

 

Michele

 

I just read about this tic called palilalia which is the tendency to repeat phrases. Sometimes my oldest son, whom I thought showed no signs of tics, repeats phrases. For example he likes to tell me all about movies or books he has read and pretty much paraphrase the whole story. While doing so he will reapeat certain parts. For instance he will say Jack and Jill went up the. Jack and Jill went up the. Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. I always wondered why he did this since it can be difficult to focus on what he is saying. Now I am wondering if this could be a tic. Any thoughts?

[JennyC]

It sounds it to me but thats just my opinion. My daughter repeats what I say, for example she will ask me something and I will say no honey not today and she will say not today not today not today. Her neurologist (in whom I have very little confidence) says he doesnt consider it a vocal tic but from everything Ive read it is. So I guess it depends on the doc.

[Chemar]

it does sound like palilaia to me. My son has had all the -lalias as part of his TS tics

[Dedee]

Just wanted to chime in with my experience. I can not give you any input on official names. I can however tell you that my son has been to a neurologist and to Dr. Murphy. Both of them asked about him repeating phrases or words, and when I said yes he does, they wanted to know specifically if it was repeating things that I said to him or things he had said to me. I was assured that this was a type of tic, and would come and go as his other tics do. Indeed it does and currently he does not do it at all. Many children do this and parents do not recognize it as a type of tic. My friend has a child who whispers words over and over that sound different or unusual whenever they come up in a conversation. I have read that this can be a mild type of tic. He also has OCD so it is not surprising that he would do this also. Anyway, just wanted to let you know of my experience. Hope it is helpful.

 

Dedee

[JennyC]

Dedee

 

This drives me nuts because all I have read has also said it was a vocal tic but my daughters doc says he doesnt consider it one. I kinda wonder what makes him so special to be able to change the criteria.