Which term describes the repetition of speech or sounds heard from others?

• A. Echolalia
• B. Palilalia
• C. Stuttering
• D. Neologism

Answer: (A)

Repetition of speech or sounds heard from others is echolalia. It can occur immediately, echoing words right after hearing them, or it can be delayed, with the person repeating phrases later. Echolalia is often discussed in the context of autism spectrum disorders and other neurological or developmental conditions, where it may serve various communicative functions such as coping, clarifying, or initiating interaction.

The other terms refer to different phenomena: palilalia is the repetition of one’s own words or phrases, usually in rapid succession; stuttering is a fluency disorder marked by interruptions like repetitions, prolongations, or blocks during speech; neologism is the invention of new words that are not part of common language. Thus, echolalia best matches the description of repeating speech heard from others.