Idiopathic Alalia
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Idiopathic alalia is a developmental speech delay in children aged three to ten where speech is lost despite preserved hearing. Physical development lags behind normal levels, and while children understand spoken language, they communicate using gestures and mimicry. This condition is more frequently observed in boys than in girls.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
IDIOPATHIC ALALIA (from the Greek a-, negative particle, and lalia, speech), a delay in speech development in children aged three to ten; the child loses the ability to speak while hearing is preserved; the physical development of such a child noticeably lags behind the normal level. Idiopathic alalia affects boys more often than girls; the child understands spoken language, but communicates using mimicry and gestures.
Related articles
Cite this page
“Idiopathic Alalia.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/idiopathic-alalia/