We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Mental

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Echolalia?

By Ken Black
Updated: Mar 03, 2024
Views: 24,140
Share

Echolalia is the phenomenon exhibited by those afflicted with autism, Tourette's syndrome and other forms of developmental disabilities or psychopathological conditions that causes them to repeat the last words or syllables they hear. In some situations, it may represent meaningful attempts at speech. In others, it may be meaningless repetition.

For those dealing with autistic individuals especially, echolalia is often seen as a sign of meaningful verbal communication. However, this should be carefully scrutinized. If it can be substantially demonstrated the autistic individual is not just meaninglessly repeating words, then this may be taken as a sign of legitimate communication.

If an autistic person is asked if they want an apple. They may respond by saying, “Apple.” When dealing with individuals with normal speech patterns, this would normally be an affirmative answer. However, if the questioner then asks if the autistic person wants nothing, they may respond, “Nothing.” In such cases, it is quite easy to determine this is simply echolalia.

Echolalia comes in two different forms. One is called immediate echolalia and the other is called delayed echolalia. By far, the most common form is immediate echolalia, where the individual responds, with very little pause, to the last word or words that were said.

Delayed echolalia is just what the name would seem to suggest. Though there are no firm standards of when echolalia would move from being labeled immediate to delayed, if the echoing takes place 30 seconds or more after the words were spoken, it would likely be safe to call it delayed. In most cases, delayed echolalia can take place hours, days or months after the words were spoken. In many cases, the autistic individual may be repeating something heard from a parent, or something heard on radio or television.

It is important to not dismiss all echolalia as meaningless communication. If there is a doubt, ask for clarification. If one asks a person who exhibits echolalia if they want a hot dog or hamburger and the answer comes back hamburger, turn the question around. Ask if they would like a hamburger or hot dog. If the answer is still hamburger, that should be taken as an affirmative, meaningful answer. If however, the answer comes back hot dog, some more work may need to be done to clearly discern the preferences.

Dealing with an autistic individual or other individual exhibiting signs of echolalia can be frustrating. However, the key is to not lose patience. The afflicted person is not intentionally trying to annoy. They are simply doing what comes naturally to them.

Often, asking for affirmation long enough, can clear up any misunderstandings, but if the individual becomes upset, the prompting for information should stop. The goal is to promote substantive communication. Asking for affirmation to the point the individual gets frustrated does not encourage communication; it discourages it.

Currently, there are no cures for echolalia, though treating the underlying problem may help reduce the instances of echolalia. For example, if medication is administered to an individual with a psychopathic illness that results in echolalia, the echolalia may be one of the symptoms treated as well. In nearly all cases, echolalia is not seen as an independent mental illness but rather connected to another condition.

Share
The Health Board is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By anon128701 — On Nov 20, 2010

Why would you not remain a fan simply because he might have AS? You would discriminate simply because he thinks in a different way than you do?

The fact remains that he has excelled in his sport, and that is a good thing, no?

By anon105949 — On Aug 23, 2010

Very interesting reading on AS. I just have a question.

Can a career athlete have AS, or a form of it? This person's appearance in photos of various activities seems not to fit in what is going on at the moment. Really awkward. Somehow very remote, like he's following someone's directions, but doesn't really get what's going on, but on the other hand has totally excelled at his chosen field of sport. He is very acclaimed.

I don't know this person personally, but was a long time fan, and I don't know if I should remain one or not. Certain things just don't add up, and I'm just trying to figure this out for myself. Thanks.

Share
https://www.thehealthboard.com/what-is-echolalia.htm
Copy this link
The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.