May 28 2009
Echolalia in Delayed Toddlers (or…is there an echo, echo, echo in here??)
Echolalia is a funny word. It is basically what it sounds like–an echo. Toddlers with communication delays may use a form of echolalia (there are several different forms).
B uses immediate echolalia which means that she repeats a word or phrase immediately after hearing it. Here is a video showing an older child displaying immediate echolalia:
You will notice that he repeats each word immediately after it is said to him.
B also uses delayed echolalia which is a repetition of a word or phrase at some later time. Sometimes she uses echolalia because she does not know the right words to use. For example, when she wants to be carried, she’ll stand in front of me, hold her arms up and say, “I wan’ you carry you!” This is delayed echolalia. The reason she says this is that I would ask her “Do you want me to carry you?” She understands that “carry you” means she gets picked up. It has taken me some time to learn to interpret for her, using the words that she would use if she could (a technique taught in the More than Words program). Now, when she holds her arms out and asks me to “carry you”, I will respond by saying, “Carry me, mama!” She’s getting closer to getting it now, but it’s still tricky for her.
When B is very excited, she will repeat the same phrase over and over. When we are going somewhere special, she’ll repeat it “We goin’ liberry!” Sometimes it is a statement, sometimes it is a question. Usually, I will just repeat it back to reassure her, “Yes, we are going to the library.” It makes for some fun times. We went to G’s school performance this week and B kept saying very loudly, “G’s gonna sing!” People around us kept smiling because they could tell how excited she was to see her sister perform.
If there is a word you don’t really want your toddler to pick up on, that’s one that they’ll probably echo. B’s new favourite word is “goofball”–sadly I taught her that one. I think she just likes the way it sounds. I’m just hoping she doesn’t start calling strangers “goo-bawl”.
Have a fun echolalia story? Please share!
