Communication and Thinking Functions

Language Assessment

Language is analyzed for speed, production and content. In speed, normal is Eulalia; slowness is called Bradilalia and excessive acceleration with running over of words is Tachylalia.

As for production, there may be Verbiage (excessive talking without relevant content, "going off the deep end") or Mutism (voluntary or involuntary due to aphasia).

An important qualitative alteration is Echolalia, characteristic of autism, where the patient involuntarily repeats the last words or phrases heard.

Facial expression or mimicry is also evaluated (hypermimicry, hypomimicry or amimicry, as in Moebius syndrome or "no smile").

Course and Content of Thought

Thought is inferred through language; if language is accelerated, thought is usually Tachypsychic; if slow, Bradypsychic; normal is Euppsychic. Whether the course is coherent or disintegrated should be assessed.

In the content, the presence of delusional, obsessive, suicidal or recurrent ideas that dominate the patient's psyche are explored.

Summary

Language is analyzed in its speed (Eulalia, Bradilalia or Tachylalia) and production. Alterations such as Verbiage, Mutism or Echolalia can be detected, the latter being characteristic of certain clinical pictures such as autism.

Thought is inferred through speech; if language is accelerated, thought is usually Tachypsychic. The coherence of the course is evaluated and if there is disintegration in the association of ideas.

As for the content of thought, it is crucial to explore the presence of delusional, obsessive or suicidal ideas. These manifestations dominate the patient's psyche and determine the severity of the current psychopathological picture.