akinetic mutism
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Related to akinetic mutism: hemiballismus, Locked in Syndrome
mutism
[mu´tizm]inability or refusal to speak, most often because deafness has prevented the person from hearing the spoken word. speech is learned by imitating the speech of others. The child who is born with normal hearing and then loses it may lose part or all of the power of speech through loss of contact with the speech of others. Mutism may also occur because the voice organs themselves have been damaged or removed, such as when a laryngectomy is performed for throat cancer. In other cases loss of speech may be psychogenic in nature. Called also aphonia.
akinetic mutism a state in which the person makes no spontaneous movement or vocal sound, because of either neurologic or psychologic reasons. Called also abulia.
selective mutism a mental disorder of childhood characterized by continuous refusal to speak in social situations when the child is able and willing to speak to selected persons.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
a·ki·net·ic mut·ism
a persistent state of altered consciousness, in which the patient appears alert intermittently (that is, demonstrates a sleep-wake cycle) but is not responsive, although the descending motor pathways appear intact; caused by lesions of various cerebral structures.
Synonym(s): coma vigil
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
akinetic mutism
A state of apparent alertness with following eye movements but no speech or voluntary motor responses.Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
a·ki·net·ic mut·ism
(ā'ki-net'ik myū'tizm)Subacute or chronic state of altered consciousness, in which the patient appears alert intermittently but is not responsive, although the descending motor pathways appear intact; due to lesions of various cerebral structures.
Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012
a·ki·net·ic mut·ism
(ā'ki-net'ik myū'tizm)Persistent state of intermittently alert altered consciousness, caused by lesions of various cerebral structures.
Medical Dictionary for the Dental Professions © Farlex 2012