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What Is Echolalia?Echolalia is the repetition of verbalizations often seen in autism. This condition may be immediate or delayed, and functional or non-functional. The immediate form involves short-term memory. Your child repeats a word or phrase which was just spoken. He may be using this technique to “buy time” until the information can be adequately processed and an appropriate response formulated. This repetition may also be used as a way for him to continue the conversation. The delayed form involves long term memory. This form may be functional or non-functional. In the functional type, your child applies a phrase inappropriately from one situation to another situation. The intent is communication with others. In the non-functional type, your child may repeat entire television programs or dialogues. The intent does not appear to be communication with others. These vocalizations are generally more pronounced in stressful situations. Echolalia is actually the normal way that most children learn language in their toddler years. Language acquisition begins as rhythmic babbling. Then, the child learns to imitate sounds, words, phrases, and then sentences. This imitation peaks around 30 months of age for most children, and then gradually declines as language becomes more spontaneous and communication becomes more effective. The continuation of echolalia in older children and even adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder may mean that your child is stuck in the language development process. Therefore, repetition should not be discouraged unnecessarily. Rather, echolalia should be redirected and subtly corrected so that appropriate language is modeled and advanced cognition is developed. If your child repeats a phrase, you should put the phrase into a correct sentence. For example, if you say, “It is nice outside,” your child may repeat, “outside.” You would then say, “Do you want to go outside?” Another useful technique for redirecting repetition involves teaching your child to say, “I do not know” instead of repeating a phrase. Initially, your child will need to be prompted, but eventually he will learn to generalize this expression. Another approach is to respond to the echoed phrase literally by following with another sentence which continues the conversation. For example, if you say, “Do you want lunch?” and your child repeats the same sentence back to you, then you would respond, “Yes, I am really hunger,” followed by, “Are you hungry, too?” This method reinforces communication skills. These techniques work to help your child gain necessary language skills and eventually discontinue the use of echolalia.
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