Echolalia

Diagnostic echolalia is the immediate, rote repetition of the words spoken by another, without assigning any meaning to them. It is typically a symptom of a neurological or psychiatric disorder. Normal echolalia refers to the repetition of a caregiver’ words by a baby who is learning to talk.

When an individual repeats words or phrases spoken by others, using a mechanical, robot-like speech pattern, the behavior is known as echolalia. This response is often observed in children with autism, Tourette's syndrome, schizophrenia, and certain other brain disorders.

See also Autism; Schizophrenia ; Speech-language pathology ; Tourette syndrome .

Resources

BOOKS

Bolte, Sven, and Joachim Hallmayer. Autism Spectrum Conditions: FAQs on Autism, Asperger Syndrome, and Atypical Autism Answered by International Experts. Cambridge, MA: Hogrefe, 2011.

Fields, R. Douglas. The Other Brain: From Dementia to Schizophrenia, How New Discoveries About the Brain Are Revolutionizing Medicine and Science. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2010.

Gnaulati, Enrico. Back to Normal: Why Ordinary Childhood Behavior Is Mistaken for ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Boston, MA: Beacon Press, 2013.

Hansen, Robin L., and Sally J. Rogers. Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric, 2013.

Jackson, Don D. The Etiology of Schizophrenia. New York: Basic Books, 1960.

Patel, Vinood B., et al., eds. Comprehensive Guide to Autism. New York: Springer, 2014.

WEBSITES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Autism.” http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism (accessed September 18, 2015).

Mayo Clinic. “Childhood Schizophrenia.” http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/childhood-schizophrenia/DS00868 (accessed September 18, 2015).

Mayo Clinic. “Autism.” http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/autism/DS00348 (accessed September 18, 2015).