What’s echolalia?

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Echolalia is the phenomenon exhibited by those 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 can represent meaningful attempts at speech. In others, it may be meaningless repetition.
For those dealing with autistic individuals in particular, echolalia is often seen as a sign of meaningful verbal communication. However, this should be looked into carefully. If it can be substantially demonstrated that the autistic individual is not simply repeating gibberish, then this can be taken as a sign of legitimate communication.

If an autistic person is asked if they want an apple. They can respond by saying “Apple”. When it comes to individuals with normal speech patterns, this would normally be an affirmative answer. However, if the interrogator asks if the autistic person wants nothing, he can answer “Nothing”. In such cases, it is quite easy to determine that it 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, in which the individual responds, with very little pause, to the last word or words that have been said.

Delayed echolalia is just what the name would suggest. While there are no firm standards for when echolalia would transition from being labeled immediate to delayed, if the echo occurs 30 seconds or more after words are spoken, it would probably be safe to call it delayed. In most cases, delayed echolalia can occur hours, days, or months after the words are spoken. In many cases, the autistic individual might repeat something he heard from a parent, or something he heard on the radio or television.

It is important not to dismiss all echolalias as meaningless communications. If in doubt, ask for clarification. If you ask a person with echolalia whether they want a hot dog or a hamburger and the answer is a hamburger, reverse the question. Ask if they would like a hamburger or hot dog. If the answer is still hamburger, it should be taken as an affirmative and meaningful answer. If, however, the answer comes back to the hot dog, it may take a little more work to clearly discern the preferences.

Dealing with an autistic individual or another individual showing signs of echolalia can be frustrating. However, the key is not to lose patience. The afflicted person is not intentionally trying to annoy. They are simply doing what comes naturally to them.
Often, asking for a statement long enough can clear up any misunderstandings, but if the individual becomes angry, the request for information should cease. The goal is to promote substantial communication. Asking for affirmation to the point where the individual becomes frustrated does not encourage communication; it discourages him.

Currently, there is no cure for echolalia, although treating the underlying problem can help reduce cases of echolalia. For example, if drugs are given to an individual with a psychopathic illness that causes echolalia, echolalia may also be one of the symptoms treated. In almost all cases, echolalia is not seen as an independent mental illness, but rather related to another condition.

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