echolalia articles
1
This article challenges the long-held view that echolalia in autism is meaningless repetition, presenting evidence that it is often a functional and intentional communication strategy. Through an elicitation study with Mandarin-speaking children with autism, the authors show that echolalia is commonly used for naming, describing, managing conversation, and supporting cognition. The findings support a reframing of echolalia as an adaptive, developmental tool rather than a purely pathological behavior.
2
This systematic review examines interventions designed to reduce echolalia in autistic children and finds that, while many approaches report decreases in echolalia, the overall quality of evidence is very low. The authors highlight major inconsistencies in how echolalia is defined, measured, and conceptualised, with most studies failing to recognise its functional or communicative value.
3
This page provides an overview of autism spectrum disorder across the lifespan, grounded in neurodiversity-affirming care and respectful, identity-centered terminology. It outlines how ASD is defined in the DSM-5-TR, highlights core features in social communication and restricted or repetitive behaviors, and explains how both medical and social models of disability shape diagnosis, services, and clinical practice.
4
This article reframes echolalia in autism as a purposeful and meaningful form of communication rather than a behavior to eliminate. Using graphs and by synthesizing research across disciplines, it equips educators with practical ways to recognize, interpret, and respond to echolalia as a bridge toward more self-generated speech.
5
This piece explains echolalia as a natural and important part of language development in autism, emphasizing its role as a bridge toward meaningful, self-generated speech. It highlights echolalia as a gestalt, top-down learning style that supports communication, social connection, and self-regulation, rather than a maladaptive behavior.