From psychology, communication is understood as an essential tool to know others, understand the world and express our thoughts. Verbal language is the main (though not the only) means of communication. Therefore, when it is altered in any way, a person’s life can be affected.

Logoclony is an alteration of language in which the syllable of the middle or end of words is repeated. It appears associated with some pathologies such as Alzheimer’s dementia, Parkinson’s or Kluver-Bucy Syndrome. In this article we will know it in detail.

Logoclony: characteristics

Logoclony is the spasmodic, compulsive, multiple repetition of a syllable in the middle or at the end of a word (for example: “I want to go to the supermarket, do, do, do”.) Sometimes she can also include words directly (“I’m going to the movies on Saturday, movies, do you want to come?”).

The patient manifests the speech therapy in a totally involuntary and dystonic way (dystonia involves sustained contractions of muscles in one or more parts of the body).

It consists of an alteration of the verbal (oral) language, and indicates organicity (organic origin of a disease), as well as other alterations such as palilalia. It is usually associated with Alzheimer’s dementia, among others.

Verbal language

Verbal language is the main means of human communication, and the main resource in the teaching-learning process. It allows us to communicate with others, exchange information, express what we think, wish, think, etc.

In short, it is a tool that makes social relations possible and powerful, although is not the only type of language in communication (non-verbal language is also essential, and complements verbal language).

In psychology, verbal language is explored in the context of a clinical interview, through observation and detailed analysis of what the patient spontaneously communicates and his/her oral responses to the psychologist’s questions.

To evaluate verbal language disorders, different aspects of the patient’s verbal expression will be analysed (tone, intensity, vocalisation, coherence…). In the case of logoclony, this is easy to check, when the patient repeats in his speech the syllables of the middle or the end of the words.

Symptoms as a language disorder

The fact that alterations or disorders in verbal language appear has a series of consequences in the life of the person who suffers them, at a relational, personal, work level, etc. Psychologically, the person may be affected , and end up avoiding social situations or conversations out of embarrassment, for example. This is especially observed in dysphemia (stuttering).

Speech therapy is one of these disorders that we mention, and it can cause suffering or discomfort in the patient, although depending on the pathology associated with speech therapy (for example Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s,…), its meaning for the person and/or interference in their life will be different (also depending on their awareness of illness or degree of contact with reality, for example).

Thus, speech therapy is part of the speech language disorders, specifically of the group of iterative or stereotyped verbal disorders . This group of disorders involves frequent and abnormal repetition of a syllable, word or phrase. In the case of speech therapy, these are syllables and words.

Also, speech therapy is a language disorder that affects its rhythm and course.

Causes and associated pathologies

Logoclonus manifests itself in Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s type dementia and other conditions , especially in pseudobulbs and senile dementias. It may also appear in Kluver Bucy Syndrome, a behavioral disorder caused by the involvement of bilateral temporal lobes.

Pseudobulbar affect

As we have seen, one of the pathologies where speech therapy appears is pseudobulbar affectation. The pseudobulbar affection (ASB), also called emotional lability, is a condition characterized by the presence of an exaggerated or inappropriate emotional expression in relation to the context and which typically involves episodes of laughter and crying.

This condition is associated with neurological disorders that involve brain damage , such as stroke (CVA), traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.

Example

An example of a logoclony would be the following phrase: “when I walk, I always walk, I walk, all words have walk, therefore I want to keep walking, I walk”.

In this case two syllables of the same word /”an”/-/”do”/ are repeated.

Other language disorders

Logoclonus, as we have seen, is a speech language disorder that falls into the group of iterative or stereotyped verbal disorders. In turn, other disorders are included within this group, such as:

1. Echolalia

It consists of the involuntary repetition of a word or phrase that has just been heard or spoken. It appears frequently in Autism Spectrum Disorders).

2. Palilalia

Similar to speech therapy, although not exactly the same. It consists of the involuntary, spontaneous and monotonous repetition of the same phrase, word or syllable .

3. Verbigeration

It is the automatic emission of whole, incoherent and unbroken words or phrases . It is frequent in demented states.

4. Coprolalia

It consists of the pathological tendency to utter obscenities (it is frequent in Tourette’s Disorder). This tendency circumscribes all words and phrases considered culturally “taboo” or inappropriate in the social environment.

Treatment

In addition to psychological therapy, treatment from a medical perspective depends on the type of brain injury behind the speech therapy.

Bibliographic references:

  • Belloch, A. et al. (1995). Manual of Psychopathology. Volume I, Madrid, McGraw-Hill.
  • Etcheverry, J.L. (2015). Use of Dextromethorphan/Quinidine in Adults with Pseudobulbar Affection. Ibero-American Society for Scientific Information, 75(1), 83-90.
  • Training and employment, UGT Andalucía. (2011). Specialized care for Alzheimer’s patients. Module 2: Alzheimer’s type dementia: neurological and cognitive aspects.
  • Quiroga, F. (2013). Common psychiatric disorders in neurological diseases. Colombian Neurological Guidelines of the Colombian Association of Neurology.