What does echolalia refer to in the context of children with ASD?

Echolalia refers to the repetition of another person's vocalizations, which often occurs in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This behavior can manifest as immediate echolalia, where a child repeats what they just heard, or delayed echolalia, which involves repeating phrases or sentences learned from others at a later time. The repetition may serve various communicative functions, including a way to process language or express emotion.

Recognizing echolalia is crucial for understanding how children with ASD communicate, as it indicates their developing language skills and can be an important step towards more meaningful communication. In contrast, nonverbal communication strategies involve gestures or expressions, which do not align with the concept of echolalia, and original speech patterns denote individual language use rather than repetition. Functioning sentences without support suggests the ability to generate language independently, which is different from the repetitive nature of echolalia.