Echolalia is the repetition of words, phrases, or sounds heard from others or media, common in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
## Types
Immediate echolalia happens right after hearing something, while delayed echolalia involves repeating phrases later, often from TV, movies, or past conversations. In ASD children, it's more persistent beyond age 3, unlike typical toddler development.
## Functions
It often serves communication needs, like requesting attention, protesting, or self-regulating, rather than meaningless mimicry. For example, a child might echo "It's a bird!" to point out something interesting.
## Management
Speech therapy and behavioral strategies, such as modeling functional language and visual supports, help transition echolalia to original speech and improve communication. Early intervention reduces its frequency over time.
