TABLE 4.

Speech and Language Features that Favor Non-Neurogenic Language Disorders

Does not meet criteria for a primary speech disorder, such as dysphonia, dysarthria, stuttering, or apraxia of speech Language otherwise normal in comprehension, repetition, and naming Does not have deficits in reading and writing Irregularity and inconsistency in language disorder, varying with person, place, topic Selective or idiosyncratic word usage Linguistic features that are not consistent with neurogenic language disorders and that may overlap with a higher-order thought disorder: Improbable or implausible mistakes in spontaneous speech Dysgrammatisms in otherwise fluent conversational speech Variability and inconsistencies in grammar and other linguistic features Specific lalias and word usage abnormalities FAS with dysgrammatisms and ability to imitate other accents Tendency to speak in caricature of “Broken English”, childlike, or foreign accent Indifference and lack of concern for language problem Lack of improvement with facilitation techniques: Automatic speech (e.g., counting or reciting the alphabet) Speaking or singing in unison Excessive improvement with distraction or fatigue