Echolalia has become a common condition in recent years and presents with specific symptoms. Fortunately, echolalia is usually a treatable disorder and can be improved through language practice and language learning. This condition is especially common in young children who are learning to speak and usually resolves by age 3. However, if it persists into adulthood or occurs at this age, it may be a sign of a developmental delay or another underlying problem. Answers to questions such as “What does echolalia mean and what are its symptoms?” are frequently searched on the internet.
What is echolalia?
Echolalia is a communication disorder that manifests itself with the automatic repetition of words, phrases or sounds heard from another person. Echolalia, which is considered normal in the process of children learning to speak, is a condition that should be examined if it continues into older ages.
During echolalia, word or sound repetitions occur involuntarily and automatically. Although it is considered natural in children who are just learning to speak, when this occurs in older ages it can be a symptom of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism. Echolalia is a common condition in autism spectrum disorder and Tourette syndrome.
Although the exact causes of echolalia have not been fully determined, it is thought that conditions such as autism, Tourette syndrome, attention deficit, aphasia, head trauma and developmental delays may lead to this disorder.
What are the symptoms of echolalia?
Echolalia symptoms are an involuntary tendency to repeat speech, sounds or expressions in individuals. These repetitions are usually clearly observable. During repetition, the person may also develop aggression and anxiety. Echolalia is usually diagnosed through tests administered by a speech therapist.
Specialist therapists assess children on the autism spectrum for echolalia during conversational sessions. Echolalia testing helps determine where a case falls on a spectrum ranging from mild to severe.
Up to what age is echolalia normal?
Echolalia, which is a reflection of the development and learning period, is expected to end around the age of 2.5-3.
Does echolalia go away completely?
Echolalia treatment is tailored to the underlying cause. This treatment process should be conducted by speech-language pathologists, professional speech therapists, neurodevelopmental specialists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and specially trained professionals. Speech therapy, in particular, plays an important role in effectively addressing echolalia associated with autism.
The therapist team carefully observes the individual and determines the source of the echolalia. If the echolalia is caused by factors such as stress, anxiety, or a psychiatric disorder, medication may also be an option. In this case, medications such as antidepressants or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may be prescribed.