The phrase "salaam spasm" may look confusing in terms of its spelling, but it is actually quite straightforward when broken down phonetically. "Salaam" is pronounced as /saˈlɑːm/, with emphasis on the first syllable, while "spasm" is pronounced as /spæzm/, with a short "a" sound like in "cat". Therefore, the spelling of the phrase represents the distinct sounds of each word. "Salaam" comes from the Arabic greeting "salam" meaning peace, and "spasm" refers to a sudden involuntary muscle contraction.
Nodding s.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.