Parents and caregivers are often puzzled by echolalia, which is a repetition of words or sounds that one hears from another person. It is an important step in language development and is usually seen in the first 3 years of life. Children learn to speak by echoing or repeating what they hear adults say. However, when it persists in children beyond the age of 3 years, it is considered as a sign of developmental/communication delay.
Did you know echolalia is often a sign of neurological or psychiatric impairments in adults? Check out our blog on neurological/post stroke rehabilitation and role of caregiver here. For the scope of this article, echolalia will be considered as a characteristic feature of communication delay.
Mom: “Where is the ball?”
Child: “Where is the ball?”
Unmitigated echolalia:
Child holding a ball: “Where is the ball?”
Mitigated echolalia:
Mom: What does a cat say?
Child: “What does a cat say, meow meow, good job!”
For children with significant echolalia, it is okay to use social scripting. Scripting refers to using a series of words that are learnt. It provides kids with responses that are socially acceptable and functional. It is just like teaching typically developing kids to say “I am fine, thank you” when someone asks, “How are you?” This pre-existing script makes the conversation socially more acceptable.