diff --git a/internal/app/app.go b/internal/app/app.go
index fdb6f7a..a1ec161 100644
--- a/internal/app/app.go
+++ b/internal/app/app.go
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@ type InputListener interface {
 const (
 	caretDebounce              = 150 * time.Millisecond
 	terminalMutationDebounce   = 50 * time.Millisecond
+	terminalRepaintDebounce    = 500 * time.Millisecond
 	objectReviewCaptureTimeout = 2 * time.Second
 	flatReviewCaptureTimeout   = 10 * time.Second
 	documentCaptureTimeout     = 15 * time.Second
diff --git a/internal/app/current_line.go b/internal/app/current_line.go
index 335e5af..e850148 100644
--- a/internal/app/current_line.go
+++ b/internal/app/current_line.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ func (handler *eventReviewHandler) current_line(command input.Command) {
 	}
 	handler.state.pending.terminalFocus.clear()
 	handler.state.pending.terminalDeletion.clear()
+	handler.state.pending.terminalRepaint.clear()
 	style := review.FlatSpeak
 	if command == input.SpellCurrentLine {
 		style = review.FlatSpell
diff --git a/internal/app/event_accessibility.go b/internal/app/event_accessibility.go
index 175b557..0307f48 100644
--- a/internal/app/event_accessibility.go
+++ b/internal/app/event_accessibility.go
@@ -254,15 +254,29 @@ func (handler *accessibilityEventHandler) handle(event atspi.Event) {
 	if autocompleteConsumed {
 		return
 	}
+	replacedDeletion := false
 	if state.pending.terminalDeletion.event.Type != "" && event.Type != atspi.CaretEvent {
-		isReplacement := event.Type == atspi.TextInsertedEvent &&
+		pendingDeletion := state.pending.terminalDeletion.event
+		// A user edit at the caret is confirmation speech, not repaint
+		// churn: never coalesce it away or drop it behind a following
+		// deletion. It flushes like any other pending deletion.
+		userDeletion := state.pending.terminalDeletion.intent == input.DeleteIntent
+		sameTerminal := event.Source.Role == "terminal" &&
 			event.Source.Path != "" &&
-			event.Source.Path == state.pending.terminalDeletion.event.Source.Path &&
-			event.Detail1 == state.pending.terminalDeletion.event.Detail1
+			event.Source.Path == pendingDeletion.Source.Path &&
+			event.Source.BusName == pendingDeletion.Source.BusName
+		isReplacement := event.Type == atspi.TextInsertedEvent && sameTerminal && !userDeletion &&
+			terminalReplacementOverlap(pendingDeletion, event)
 		if isReplacement {
+			replacedDeletion = true
 			state.pending.terminalDeletion.clear()
 			logger.Debug("coalesced terminal deletion with following insertion", "role", event.Source.Role)
-		} else {
+		} else if !(event.Type == atspi.TextDeletedEvent && sameTerminal && !userDeletion) {
+			// Another deletion from the same terminal is part of the same
+			// repaint burst. It is handled below: scroll shifts return
+			// early, anything else replaces the pending deletion. Either
+			// way the pending deletion must not flush early, or the burst
+			// speaks the text it is about to rewrite.
 			flushTerminalDeletion()
 		}
 	}
@@ -298,9 +312,47 @@ func (handler *accessibilityEventHandler) handle(event atspi.Event) {
 			logger.Debug("skipped terminal scrollback deletion", "role", event.Source.Role)
 			return
 		}
-		state.pending.terminalDeletion.schedule(event, input.NoIntent, terminalMutationDebounce)
+		deletionIntent := input.NoIntent
+		if is_user_terminal_deletion(event, intent) {
+			deletionIntent = input.DeleteIntent
+		}
+		state.pending.terminalDeletion.schedule(event, deletionIntent, terminalMutationDebounce)
 		return
 	}
+	// Latest wins for in-place terminal repaints: hold the insertion
+	// briefly so a newer rewrite of the same region replaces it before
+	// either speaks. A rewrite of a different region, or appended output
+	// from the same terminal, first flushes the held repaint in order.
+	flushTerminalRepaint := func() {
+		if state.pending.terminalRepaint.event.Type == "" {
+			return
+		}
+		pending, _ := state.pending.terminalRepaint.take()
+		if is_trivial_terminal_repaint(pending) {
+			logger.Debug("dropped trivial terminal repaint fragment", "role", pending.Source.Role)
+			return
+		}
+		speak(pending)
+	}
+	if is_latest_wins_terminal_repaint(event, intent, replacedDeletion) {
+		if state.pending.terminalRepaint.event.Type != "" &&
+			!terminalReplacementOverlap(state.pending.terminalRepaint.event, event) {
+			flushTerminalRepaint()
+		}
+		state.pending.terminalRepaint.schedule(event, input.NoIntent, terminalRepaintDebounce)
+		logger.Debug("queued latest-wins terminal repaint", "role", event.Source.Role)
+		if autocompleteRequest.Text != "" {
+			speech.Enqueue(autocompleteRequest)
+		}
+		return
+	}
+	if event.Type == atspi.TextInsertedEvent && event.Source.Role == "terminal" &&
+		state.pending.terminalRepaint.event.Type != "" &&
+		event.Source.Path != "" &&
+		event.Source.Path == state.pending.terminalRepaint.event.Source.Path &&
+		event.Source.BusName == state.pending.terminalRepaint.event.Source.BusName {
+		flushTerminalRepaint()
+	}
 	speak(event)
 	if autocompleteRequest.Text != "" {
 		speech.Enqueue(autocompleteRequest)
diff --git a/internal/app/event_caret.go b/internal/app/event_caret.go
index a98fbf8..9910e8e 100644
--- a/internal/app/event_caret.go
+++ b/internal/app/event_caret.go
@@ -21,6 +21,22 @@ func (handler *accessibilityEventHandler) handleCaret(event atspi.Event, activit
 	objectReview := handler.objectReview
 	debounce := handler.debounce
 	if event.Type == atspi.CaretEvent {
+		// A reader started while a terminal already has focus may never
+		// receive a focus-gain event for it. Caret movement caused by the
+		// user's own typing on the focused terminal is enough to anchor
+		// flat review; without this, review stays focusless until a
+		// workspace switch replays focus. Restricting this to typing and
+		// delete input keeps a background terminal's own output churn
+		// from claiming review focus.
+		if objectReview != nil && event.Source.Role == "terminal" && event.Source.Focused &&
+			(intent == input.TypingIntent || intent == input.DeleteIntent) {
+			objectReview.SyncFocus(event.Source.ID())
+			if !state.focusedID.Valid() {
+				state.owner.follow(event)
+				state.focusedID = event.Source.ID()
+				state.current = event.Source
+			}
+		}
 		if event.Source.ReadOnlyCombo.Valid() && event.Source.ReadOnlyCombo == state.focusedID &&
 			state.current.ID() == state.focusedID && state.current.Role == "combo box" {
 			// The combo's name/value event presents this selection, even when
diff --git a/internal/app/event_caret_test.go b/internal/app/event_caret_test.go
index 0425192..2d1196e 100644
--- a/internal/app/event_caret_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/event_caret_test.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 
 	"git.stormux.org/storm/cthulhu/internal/atspi"
 	"git.stormux.org/storm/cthulhu/internal/input"
+	"git.stormux.org/storm/cthulhu/internal/review"
 )
 
 func TestProcessEventsSpeaksChangedCaretLines(t *testing.T) {
@@ -156,6 +157,38 @@ func TestReadOnlyComboCaretRequiresExactOwnedCombo(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestTerminalCaretSeedsReviewFocusWithoutFocusEvent(t *testing.T) {
+	// A reader started while the terminal already has focus may never see
+	// a focus-gain event. Caret movement from the focused terminal is the
+	// evidence flat review needs to anchor to it.
+	worker, err := review.NewWorker(&documentLineCapturer{calls: make(chan documentLineCaptureCall, 1)}, time.Second)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	state := &eventLoopState{}
+	defer state.pending.clear()
+	handler := accessibilityEventHandler{state: state, logger: slog.New(slog.DiscardHandler), objectReview: worker, debounce: time.Hour}
+	terminal := atspi.Snapshot{BusName: ":1.9", Path: "/terminal", Role: "terminal", Focused: true}
+	// Output churn without user typing must not claim review focus.
+	handler.handleCaret(atspi.NewEvent(atspi.CaretEvent, terminal), input.Activity{}, input.NoIntent)
+	if got := worker.Focus(); got.Valid() {
+		t.Fatalf("review focus seeded without typing = %+v", got)
+	}
+	handler.handleCaret(atspi.NewEvent(atspi.CaretEvent, terminal), input.Activity{}, input.TypingIntent)
+	if got := worker.Focus(); got != terminal.ID() {
+		t.Fatalf("review focus = %+v, want terminal %+v", got, terminal.ID())
+	}
+	if state.focusedID != terminal.ID() || state.current.ID() != terminal.ID() {
+		t.Fatalf("focused state = %+v/%+v, want terminal", state.focusedID, state.current.ID())
+	}
+	// An unfocused terminal caret must not steal review focus.
+	other := atspi.Snapshot{BusName: ":1.9", Path: "/other-terminal", Role: "terminal"}
+	handler.handleCaret(atspi.NewEvent(atspi.CaretEvent, other), input.Activity{}, input.TypingIntent)
+	if got := worker.Focus(); got != terminal.ID() {
+		t.Fatalf("review focus after unfocused caret = %+v, want %+v", got, terminal.ID())
+	}
+}
+
 func TestProcessEventsSpeaksCaretCharacters(t *testing.T) {
 	speech := &fakeSpeechQueue{spoken: make(chan string, 3)}
 	adapter := &fakeAdapter{events: make(chan atspi.Event, 3)}
diff --git a/internal/app/event_loop.go b/internal/app/event_loop.go
index 84df1d6..240f310 100644
--- a/internal/app/event_loop.go
+++ b/internal/app/event_loop.go
@@ -333,6 +333,17 @@ func processEventsWithAttributes(
 			}
 			event, _ := state.pending.terminalDeletion.take()
 			speak(event)
+		case <-state.pending.terminalRepaint.ready:
+			if focusGate.Locked() {
+				state.pending.clear()
+				continue
+			}
+			event, _ := state.pending.terminalRepaint.take()
+			if is_trivial_terminal_repaint(event) {
+				logger.Debug("dropped trivial terminal repaint fragment", "role", event.Source.Role)
+				continue
+			}
+			speak(event)
 		case command := <-reviewRequests:
 			switch command {
 			case input.PresentCurrentLine, input.SpellCurrentLine, input.PhoneticCurrentLine:
diff --git a/internal/app/event_review_results.go b/internal/app/event_review_results.go
index 878c057..87c6524 100644
--- a/internal/app/event_review_results.go
+++ b/internal/app/event_review_results.go
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ func (handler *eventReviewHandler) whereAmI() {
 	state := handler.state
 	state.pending.terminalFocus.clear()
 	state.pending.terminalDeletion.clear()
+	state.pending.terminalRepaint.clear()
 	// Python's Where Am I is speech-only. Do not suppress the role merely
 	// because ordinary focus presentation replaces it with a sound cue.
 	reviewOptions := state.presentationOptions
@@ -209,6 +210,7 @@ func (handler *eventReviewHandler) handle(result review.Result) {
 		}
 		state.pending.terminalFocus.clear()
 		state.pending.terminalDeletion.clear()
+		state.pending.terminalRepaint.clear()
 		presentFlatReviewResult(logger, speech, result)
 		if reservedWineID(result.FlatFocus) && brailleOutput != nil && result.Err == nil &&
 			(result.Moved || result.FlatStep == 0 && result.FlatUnit != review.WordAbove && result.FlatUnit != review.WordBelow) {
diff --git a/internal/app/pending_presentation.go b/internal/app/pending_presentation.go
index ba69b71..8efdc21 100644
--- a/internal/app/pending_presentation.go
+++ b/internal/app/pending_presentation.go
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ type pendingPresentations struct {
 	caret             pendingPresentation
 	terminalFocus     pendingPresentation
 	terminalDeletion  pendingPresentation
+	terminalRepaint   pendingPresentation
 	browserButtonName pendingBrowserButtonName
 	radioSound        pendingRadioSound
 }
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ func (pending *pendingPresentations) clear() {
 	pending.caret.clear()
 	pending.terminalFocus.clear()
 	pending.terminalDeletion.clear()
+	pending.terminalRepaint.clear()
 	pending.browserButtonName.clear()
 	pending.radioSound.clear()
 }
diff --git a/internal/app/terminal_events.go b/internal/app/terminal_events.go
index 8987d9b..560e3cc 100644
--- a/internal/app/terminal_events.go
+++ b/internal/app/terminal_events.go
@@ -5,15 +5,73 @@
 
 package app
 
-import "git.stormux.org/storm/cthulhu/internal/atspi"
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"unicode/utf8"
+
+	"git.stormux.org/storm/cthulhu/internal/atspi"
+	"git.stormux.org/storm/cthulhu/internal/input"
+)
 
 func should_ignore_terminal_scrollback(event atspi.Event) bool {
-	// VTE can remove old complete lines at the start of its accessible text
-	// while appending output at a different offset. These are not edits to
-	// the prompt. This event pattern occurs on both X11 and Wayland.
+	// VTE can remove old lines at the start of its accessible text while
+	// appending output at a different offset. A deletion entirely before
+	// the caret line is not an edit to the prompt. VTE wrapped rows have
+	// no trailing newline, so do not require one. This event pattern
+	// occurs on both X11 and Wayland.
 	return event.Type == atspi.TextDeletedEvent &&
 		event.Source.Role == "terminal" && event.Detail1 == 0 &&
 		event.Source.TextCaretKnown && event.Source.BrailleLineStart > 0 &&
-		event.TextChangeEndsLine && event.TextChangeLength > 0 &&
+		event.TextChangeLength > 0 &&
 		event.TextChangeLength <= event.Source.BrailleLineStart
 }
+
+// is_user_terminal_deletion identifies a deletion the user just caused at
+// the caret on its own line: a Backspace or Delete edit. The deleted text
+// is the user's confirmation that the edit took, so repaint coalescing
+// must not swallow it. Program repaints start above the caret line, and
+// deletions without a preceding delete key are program output churn.
+func is_user_terminal_deletion(event atspi.Event, intent input.Intent) bool {
+	return intent == input.DeleteIntent &&
+		event.Type == atspi.TextDeletedEvent && event.Source.Role == "terminal" &&
+		event.Source.TextCaretKnown &&
+		event.Detail1 >= event.Source.BrailleLineStart &&
+		event.Detail1 <= event.Source.BrailleCaret
+}
+
+// is_latest_wins_terminal_repaint identifies an in-place rewrite: an
+// insertion that replaced a just-deleted range. Status regions update
+// this way several times a second and only the newest state is worth
+// hearing. Editing feedback on the caret line after a typing or delete
+// key stays immediate; appended output has no preceding deletion and
+// never qualifies.
+func is_latest_wins_terminal_repaint(event atspi.Event, intent input.Intent, replacedDeletion bool) bool {
+	if !replacedDeletion || event.Type != atspi.TextInsertedEvent || event.Source.Role != "terminal" {
+		return false
+	}
+	if (intent == input.TypingIntent || intent == input.DeleteIntent) &&
+		event.Source.TextCaretKnown && event.Detail1 >= event.Source.BrailleLineStart {
+		return false
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+// is_trivial_terminal_repaint identifies a held repaint whose payload is
+// only the few cells that changed in a ticking status (timer digits such
+// as "40"). Uttered alone it has no context; a fuller repaint of the same
+// region replaces it before the flush if one follows.
+func is_trivial_terminal_repaint(event atspi.Event) bool {
+	return event.Type == atspi.TextInsertedEvent && event.Source.Role == "terminal" &&
+		utf8.RuneCountInString(strings.TrimSpace(event.Payload)) <= 2
+}
+
+// terminalReplacementOverlap reports whether an insertion rewrites any of
+// the range a pending deletion removed. Offsets are not compared exactly:
+// a scroll shift at the start of the buffer between the deletion and its
+// replacement insertion moves the insertion's offset, and a repainted
+// region is routinely rewritten at a neighboring offset.
+func terminalReplacementOverlap(deletion, insertion atspi.Event) bool {
+	deletionEnd := deletion.Detail1 + max(deletion.TextChangeLength, 1)
+	insertionEnd := insertion.Detail1 + max(insertion.TextChangeLength, 1)
+	return insertion.Detail1 < deletionEnd && deletion.Detail1 < insertionEnd
+}
diff --git a/internal/app/terminal_events_test.go b/internal/app/terminal_events_test.go
index 20df10e..43b0e07 100644
--- a/internal/app/terminal_events_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/terminal_events_test.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"git.stormux.org/storm/cthulhu/internal/atspi"
+	"git.stormux.org/storm/cthulhu/internal/input"
 )
 
 func TestProcessEventsTerminalScrollbackDeletionBothSessions(t *testing.T) {
@@ -111,16 +112,22 @@ func TestTerminalScrollbackDeletionPreservesEditing(t *testing.T) {
 		{"backspace", func(event *atspi.Event) { event.Payload = "x"; event.Detail1 = 109 }, false},
 		{"delete", func(event *atspi.Event) { event.Payload = "x"; event.Detail1 = 110 }, false},
 		{"delete word", func(event *atspi.Event) { event.Payload = "command"; event.Detail1 = 100 }, false},
-		{"first character", func(event *atspi.Event) {
+		{"single character at start", func(event *atspi.Event) {
+			// The caret line starts at 100, so a deletion at offset 0 is a
+			// wrap/scroll shift, not an edit on the caret line. A real
+			// first-line backspace has a line start of 0 (see above).
 			*event = atspi.NewEventWithPayload(atspi.TextDeletedEvent, terminal, "x")
-		}, false},
+		}, true},
 		{"newline", func(event *atspi.Event) { event.Payload = "\n"; event.Detail1 = 100 }, false},
 		{"current first line", func(event *atspi.Event) { event.Source.BrailleLineStart = 0 }, false},
 		{"range reaches current line", func(event *atspi.Event) { event.Source.BrailleLineStart = 5 }, false},
 		{"unknown caret", func(event *atspi.Event) { event.Source.TextCaretKnown = false }, false},
 		{"partial line", func(event *atspi.Event) {
+			// VTE wrapped rows have no trailing newline, so a scrollback
+			// deletion entirely before the caret line is still a scroll,
+			// never an edit on the caret line.
 			*event = atspi.NewEventWithPayload(atspi.TextDeletedEvent, terminal, "Old prompt")
-		}, false},
+		}, true},
 		{"editor", func(event *atspi.Event) { event.Source.Role = "text" }, false},
 		{"insertion", func(event *atspi.Event) { event.Type = atspi.TextInsertedEvent }, false},
 	} {
@@ -179,6 +186,257 @@ func TestProcessEventsCoalescesTerminalDeletionWithReplacementInsertion(t *testi
 	}
 }
 
+func TestProcessEventsCoalescesTerminalRepaintAcrossScrollShift(t *testing.T) {
+	speech := &fakeSpeechQueue{spoken: make(chan string, 3)}
+	adapter := &fakeAdapter{events: make(chan atspi.Event, 3)}
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cancel()
+	completed := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		processEvents(ctx, slog.New(slog.DiscardHandler), speech, adapter, 0)
+		close(completed)
+	}()
+
+	// A TUI repaints its live region: it deletes the old region, a
+	// one-character scroll shift at the start of the buffer moves every
+	// later offset back by one, then it inserts the new region. Only the
+	// insertion may speak.
+	terminal := atspi.NewSnapshot("/accessible/terminal", "", "terminal", "", "")
+	terminal.TextCaretKnown = true
+	terminal.BrailleLineStart = 190
+	terminal.BrailleCaret = 195
+	repaint := atspi.NewEventWithPayload(atspi.TextDeletedEvent, terminal, strings.Repeat("x", 50))
+	repaint.Detail1 = 100
+	shift := atspi.NewEventWithPayload(atspi.TextDeletedEvent, terminal, " ")
+	replacement := atspi.NewEventWithPayload(atspi.TextInsertedEvent, terminal, "new region text")
+	replacement.Detail1 = 99
+	adapter.events <- repaint
+	adapter.events <- shift
+	adapter.events <- replacement
+
+	select {
+	case text := <-speech.spoken:
+		if text != "new region text" {
+			t.Fatalf("spoken text = %q, want only the replacement insertion", text)
+		}
+	case <-time.After(time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("timed out waiting for replacement insertion")
+	}
+	select {
+	case text := <-speech.spoken:
+		t.Fatalf("terminal repaint deletion was presented as %q", text)
+	case <-time.After(2 * terminalMutationDebounce):
+	}
+
+	cancel()
+	select {
+	case <-completed:
+	case <-time.After(time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("event loop did not stop")
+	}
+}
+
+func repaintSequence(adapter *fakeAdapter, terminal atspi.Snapshot, detail1 int, texts ...string) {
+	for _, text := range texts {
+		deletion := atspi.NewEventWithPayload(atspi.TextDeletedEvent, terminal, strings.Repeat("x", len(text)))
+		deletion.Detail1 = detail1
+		insertion := atspi.NewEventWithPayload(atspi.TextInsertedEvent, terminal, text)
+		insertion.Detail1 = detail1
+		adapter.events <- deletion
+		adapter.events <- insertion
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProcessEventsLatestTerminalRepaintWins(t *testing.T) {
+	speech := &fakeSpeechQueue{spoken: make(chan string, 4)}
+	adapter := &fakeAdapter{events: make(chan atspi.Event, 8)}
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cancel()
+	completed := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		processEvents(ctx, slog.New(slog.DiscardHandler), speech, adapter, 0)
+		close(completed)
+	}()
+
+	terminal := atspi.NewSnapshot("/accessible/terminal", "", "terminal", "", "")
+	terminal.TextCaretKnown = true
+	terminal.BrailleLineStart = 200
+	terminal.BrailleCaret = 205
+	repaintSequence(adapter, terminal, 100, "Thinking (1s)", "Thinking (2s)", "Thinking (3s)")
+
+	select {
+	case text := <-speech.spoken:
+		if text != "Thinking (3s)" {
+			t.Fatalf("spoken text = %q, want only the latest repaint", text)
+		}
+	case <-time.After(3 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("latest repaint was not presented")
+	}
+	select {
+	case text := <-speech.spoken:
+		t.Fatalf("superseded repaint was presented as %q", text)
+	case <-time.After(terminalRepaintDebounce):
+	}
+
+	cancel()
+	select {
+	case <-completed:
+	case <-time.After(time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("event loop did not stop")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProcessEventsTerminalRepaintsInDifferentRegionsBothSpeak(t *testing.T) {
+	speech := &fakeSpeechQueue{spoken: make(chan string, 4)}
+	adapter := &fakeAdapter{events: make(chan atspi.Event, 8)}
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cancel()
+	completed := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		processEvents(ctx, slog.New(slog.DiscardHandler), speech, adapter, 0)
+		close(completed)
+	}()
+
+	terminal := atspi.NewSnapshot("/accessible/terminal", "", "terminal", "", "")
+	terminal.TextCaretKnown = true
+	terminal.BrailleLineStart = 400
+	terminal.BrailleCaret = 405
+	repaintSequence(adapter, terminal, 100, "First region")
+	repaintSequence(adapter, terminal, 300, "Second region")
+
+	for _, expected := range []string{"First region", "Second region"} {
+		select {
+		case text := <-speech.spoken:
+			if text != expected {
+				t.Fatalf("spoken text = %q, want %q", text, expected)
+			}
+		case <-time.After(3 * time.Second):
+			t.Fatalf("timed out waiting for %q", expected)
+		}
+	}
+
+	cancel()
+	select {
+	case <-completed:
+	case <-time.After(time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("event loop did not stop")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProcessEventsDropsTrivialTerminalRepaintFragments(t *testing.T) {
+	speech := &fakeSpeechQueue{spoken: make(chan string, 4)}
+	adapter := &fakeAdapter{events: make(chan atspi.Event, 8)}
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cancel()
+	completed := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		processEvents(ctx, slog.New(slog.DiscardHandler), speech, adapter, 0)
+		close(completed)
+	}()
+
+	terminal := atspi.NewSnapshot("/accessible/terminal", "", "terminal", "", "")
+	terminal.TextCaretKnown = true
+	terminal.BrailleLineStart = 200
+	terminal.BrailleCaret = 205
+	repaintSequence(adapter, terminal, 100, "40")
+	select {
+	case text := <-speech.spoken:
+		t.Fatalf("trivial repaint fragment was presented as %q", text)
+	case <-time.After(2 * terminalRepaintDebounce):
+	}
+	repaintSequence(adapter, terminal, 100, "Thinking (4s)")
+	select {
+	case text := <-speech.spoken:
+		if text != "Thinking (4s)" {
+			t.Fatalf("spoken text = %q, want the full repaint", text)
+		}
+	case <-time.After(3 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("full repaint was not presented")
+	}
+
+	cancel()
+	select {
+	case <-completed:
+	case <-time.After(time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("event loop did not stop")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProcessEventsPresentsUserTerminalDeletionDespiteRedraw(t *testing.T) {
+	speech := &fakeSpeechQueue{spoken: make(chan string, 3)}
+	adapter := &fakeAdapter{events: make(chan atspi.Event, 3)}
+	tracker := &input.IntentTracker{}
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cancel()
+	completed := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		processEventsWithInput(ctx, slog.New(slog.DiscardHandler), speech, adapter, nil, nil, 0, nil, tracker, nil, nil)
+		close(completed)
+	}()
+
+	// Backspace in a terminal input redraws the erased cell: the deleted
+	// character is replaced by a blank at the same offset. The deletion is
+	// the user's confirmation that the edit took and must still speak.
+	terminal := atspi.NewSnapshot("/accessible/terminal", "", "terminal", "", "")
+	terminal.TextCaretKnown = true
+	terminal.BrailleLineStart = 100
+	terminal.BrailleCaret = 105
+	tracker.Observe(input.NewKeyEvent(0, true, "BackSpace"))
+	deletion := atspi.NewEventWithPayload(atspi.TextDeletedEvent, terminal, "x")
+	deletion.Detail1 = 105
+	redraw := atspi.NewEventWithPayload(atspi.TextInsertedEvent, terminal, " ")
+	redraw.Detail1 = 105
+	adapter.events <- deletion
+	adapter.events <- redraw
+
+	select {
+	case text := <-speech.spoken:
+		if text != "x" {
+			t.Fatalf("spoken text = %q, want the deleted character", text)
+		}
+	case <-time.After(time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("user deletion was not presented")
+	}
+
+	cancel()
+	select {
+	case <-completed:
+	case <-time.After(time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("event loop did not stop")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestUserTerminalDeletionClassification(t *testing.T) {
+	terminal := atspi.NewSnapshot("/accessible/terminal", "", "terminal", "", "")
+	terminal.TextCaretKnown = true
+	terminal.BrailleLineStart = 100
+	terminal.BrailleCaret = 105
+	for _, test := range []struct {
+		name   string
+		intent input.Intent
+		modify func(*atspi.Event)
+		want   bool
+	}{
+		{"backspace at caret", input.DeleteIntent, func(event *atspi.Event) { event.Detail1 = 105 }, true},
+		{"backspace before caret", input.DeleteIntent, func(event *atspi.Event) { event.Detail1 = 104 }, true},
+		{"typing intent", input.TypingIntent, func(event *atspi.Event) { event.Detail1 = 105 }, false},
+		{"no intent", input.NoIntent, func(event *atspi.Event) { event.Detail1 = 105 }, false},
+		{"repaint above caret line", input.DeleteIntent, func(event *atspi.Event) { event.Detail1 = 40 }, false},
+		{"unknown caret", input.DeleteIntent, func(event *atspi.Event) {
+			event.Detail1 = 105
+			event.Source.TextCaretKnown = false
+		}, false},
+	} {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			event := atspi.NewEventWithPayload(atspi.TextDeletedEvent, terminal, "x")
+			test.modify(&event)
+			if got := is_user_terminal_deletion(event, test.intent); got != test.want {
+				t.Fatalf("is_user_terminal_deletion = %v, want %v", got, test.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestProcessEventsPresentsStandaloneTerminalDeletion(t *testing.T) {
 	speech := &fakeSpeechQueue{spoken: make(chan string, 1)}
 	adapter := &fakeAdapter{events: make(chan atspi.Event, 1)}
diff --git a/internal/app/window_titles.go b/internal/app/window_titles.go
index f1de029..f2441c8 100644
--- a/internal/app/window_titles.go
+++ b/internal/app/window_titles.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"log/slog"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
+	"unicode"
 
 	"git.stormux.org/storm/cthulhu/internal/atspi"
 	"git.stormux.org/storm/cthulhu/internal/input"
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ type windowTitleController struct {
 	inputSource any
 	lastNative  atspi.ForegroundTitle
 	lastTitle   string
+	recent      map[string]time.Time
 	application string
 	pending     *pendingWindowTitle
 	timer       *time.Timer
@@ -55,6 +57,10 @@ type windowTitleController struct {
 const (
 	windowTitleChangeDelay       = 25 * time.Millisecond
 	windowTitleIntroductionDelay = 250 * time.Millisecond
+	// Animated titles (terminal TUI spinners) cycle through the same set
+	// of frames about once a second. A title already announced within
+	// this window is another cycle, not a new title.
+	windowTitleRepeatWindow = 3 * time.Second
 )
 
 func (titles *windowTitleController) clearPending() {
@@ -64,6 +70,10 @@ func (titles *windowTitleController) clearPending() {
 	titles.timer, titles.due, titles.pending = nil, nil, nil
 }
 
+// The animated-title repeat history (titles.recent) deliberately
+// survives reset and activation: it expires by time on its own, and a
+// workspace round-trip away from a window with an animated title must
+// not restart its announcement cycle on return.
 func (titles *windowTitleController) reset() {
 	titles.clearPending()
 	titles.lastTitle, titles.application = "", ""
@@ -140,6 +150,11 @@ func (titles *windowTitleController) accessible(event atspi.Event) bool {
 		titles.state.owner.changeTitle(event)
 		titles.clearPending()
 		titles.lastTitle = ""
+		// Keep the repeat history: animated title cycles include a
+		// blank frame every cycle (observed from terminal TUIs), and
+		// clearing here would restart the cycle announcement each
+		// second. A title restored after a genuine removal announces
+		// again once the repeat window expires.
 		return true
 	}
 	previousTitle := titles.state.owner.title
@@ -171,6 +186,16 @@ func (titles *windowTitleController) nativeChanged() {
 	accessibleActivation := titles.state.owner.activated && !wine.IsReviewID(titles.state.owner.window)
 	if switched {
 		titles.clearPending()
+		// Keep the repeat history: a native sampler can re-report the
+		// same client as a switch (new epoch or title-window id) on
+		// every title sample, and clearing here would defeat animated
+		// title suppression. Genuine window switches clear it through
+		// AT-SPI activation instead.
+		if titles.logger != nil {
+			titles.logger.Debug("native window title switch",
+				"epoch", latest.Epoch, "window", latest.Title.Window,
+				"title_window", latest.Title.TitleWindow)
+		}
 		// An AT-SPI activation may already have introduced this client.
 		titles.lastTitle = titles.state.owner.title
 		if wine.IsReviewID(titles.state.owner.window) {
@@ -200,6 +225,46 @@ func (titles *windowTitleController) nativeChanged() {
 		native: latest.Title, changed: changed})
 }
 
+// animatedWindowTitleKey reduces a title to the part that carries meaning
+// across animation frames. A leading field with no letter or digit is a
+// spinner frame, not content; a leading count stays, since it can change
+// meaningfully. Announcement suppression uses this only to detect cycles;
+// the spoken text remains the original title.
+func animatedWindowTitleKey(title string) string {
+	fields := strings.Fields(strings.ToLower(title))
+	if len(fields) > 1 && strings.IndexFunc(fields[0], func(r rune) bool {
+		return unicode.IsLetter(r) || unicode.IsDigit(r)
+	}) < 0 {
+		fields = fields[1:]
+	}
+	return strings.Join(fields, " ")
+}
+
+// repeatedWithinWindow reports whether this title was already announced in
+// the repeat window. A suppressed sighting refreshes its entry, so a
+// running animation stays suppressed instead of breaking through once per
+// window; it expires shortly after the animation stops.
+func (titles *windowTitleController) repeatedWithinWindow(text string, at time.Time) bool {
+	key := animatedWindowTitleKey(text)
+	if key == "" {
+		return false
+	}
+	if at.IsZero() {
+		at = time.Now()
+	}
+	for seen, when := range titles.recent {
+		if at.Sub(when) > windowTitleRepeatWindow {
+			delete(titles.recent, seen)
+		}
+	}
+	if titles.recent == nil {
+		titles.recent = make(map[string]time.Time)
+	}
+	_, repeated := titles.recent[key]
+	titles.recent[key] = at
+	return repeated
+}
+
 func equivalentWindowTitles(first, second string) bool {
 	normalize := func(value string) string { return strings.Join(strings.Fields(strings.ToLower(value)), " ") }
 	first, second = normalize(first), normalize(second)
@@ -327,6 +392,13 @@ func (titles *windowTitleController) flush() {
 	if pending.inputSequence != recentInput(titles.inputSource).TitleInterruptionSequence {
 		return
 	}
+	if pending.changed && titles.repeatedWithinWindow(pending.text, pending.observedAt) {
+		if titles.logger != nil {
+			titles.logger.Debug("suppressed repeated window title",
+				"key", animatedWindowTitleKey(pending.text), "recent", len(titles.recent))
+		}
+		return
+	}
 	if titles.logger != nil {
 		titles.logger.Debug("queued automatic window title", "title_changed", pending.changed,
 			"observed_to_queue_ms", time.Since(pending.observedAt).Milliseconds())
diff --git a/internal/app/window_titles_test.go b/internal/app/window_titles_test.go
index 3c277a7..1778536 100644
--- a/internal/app/window_titles_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/window_titles_test.go
@@ -76,8 +76,96 @@ func TestAutomaticTitlePolicyCoalescesAndPreservesSpeech(t *testing.T) {
 	changed.Source.Name = "Loading 100%"
 	titles.accessible(changed)
 	titles.flush()
+	// A title restored within the repeat window is a repeat, not news;
+	// animated cycles pass through a blank frame every cycle and must
+	// not revive announcements. It announces again after the window.
+	if len(queue.requests) != 1 {
+		t.Fatal("restored title repeated within the repeat window")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAutomaticTitleSuppressesAnimatedSpinnerCycle(t *testing.T) {
+	titles, queue, changed := titleControllerFixture(t)
+	// Terminal TUIs animate a spinner glyph in the title several times a
+	// second while the meaningful title text stays the same. The cycle
+	// includes a blank frame; it must not reset suppression.
+	for _, text := range []string{"⠋ Terminal", "⠙ Terminal", "⠹ Terminal", "", "⠋ Terminal", "Terminal", "", "⠙ Terminal"} {
+		changed.Source.Name = text
+		titles.accessible(changed)
+		titles.flush()
+	}
+	if len(queue.requests) != 1 || queue.requests[0].Text != "⠋ Terminal" {
+		t.Fatalf("spinner title requests = %+v, want only the first frame", queue.requests)
+	}
+	// A different title is not part of the animation and still announces.
+	changed.Source.Name = "Build finished"
+	titles.accessible(changed)
+	titles.flush()
+	if len(queue.requests) != 2 || queue.requests[1].Text != "Build finished" {
+		t.Fatalf("title after spinner = %+v", queue.requests)
+	}
+	// A leading count is meaningful: each value announces, a rapid repeat
+	// of an earlier value in the same cycle does not.
+	for _, text := range []string{"(2) Terminal", "(3) Terminal", "(2) Terminal"} {
+		changed.Source.Name = text
+		titles.accessible(changed)
+		titles.flush()
+	}
+	if len(queue.requests) != 4 {
+		t.Fatalf("counted title requests = %+v, want the cycle repeat suppressed", queue.requests)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestWindowReactivationDoesNotReviveSpinnerCycle(t *testing.T) {
+	titles, queue, changed := titleControllerFixture(t)
+	for _, text := range []string{"9 Terminal", "8 Terminal"} {
+		changed.Source.Name = text
+		titles.accessible(changed)
+		titles.flush()
+	}
 	if len(queue.requests) != 2 {
-		t.Fatal("restored title was not announced")
+		t.Fatalf("initial spinner titles = %+v", queue.requests)
+	}
+	// Leaving for another workspace deactivates (reset) and returning
+	// reactivates the same window. Neither may restart the cycle.
+	titles.reset()
+	titles.activated(changed)
+	for _, text := range []string{"9 Terminal", "8 Terminal"} {
+		changed.Source.Name = text
+		titles.accessible(changed)
+		titles.flush()
+	}
+	if len(queue.requests) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("spinner revived by workspace round-trip = %+v", queue.requests)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNativeTitleSwitchSamplesDoNotReviveSpinnerCycle(t *testing.T) {
+	titles, queue, changed := titleControllerFixture(t)
+	source := &titleProbeSource{title: atspi.ForegroundTitle{Title: xorg.WindowTitle{Window: 10, TitleWindow: 10, Title: "Original"}}}
+	titles.source, titles.foreground = source, source
+	titles.nativeChanged()
+	titles.flush()
+	changed.Source.Name = "9 Terminal"
+	titles.accessible(changed)
+	titles.flush()
+	changed.Source.Name = "8 Terminal"
+	titles.accessible(changed)
+	titles.flush()
+	if len(queue.requests) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("initial spinner titles = %+v", queue.requests)
+	}
+	// A native sampler may re-report the same client as a switch on every
+	// sample. That must not wipe the animated-title repeat history, so the
+	// cycle returning to an earlier frame stays suppressed.
+	for _, text := range []string{"9 Terminal", "8 Terminal"} {
+		source.title.Epoch++
+		source.title.Title.Title = text
+		titles.nativeChanged()
+		titles.flush()
+	}
+	if len(queue.requests) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("spinner revived by native switch samples = %+v", queue.requests)
 	}
 }