What Is Immediate Echolalia?
Immediate echolalia refers to replicated utterances that are produced or echoed immediately or almost immediately after they are heard. Many individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may repeat utterances as a temporary step prior to or while they are developing fluent generative or creative spoken language. Some individuals may not move beyond this step and may use it along with delayed echolalia and nonverbal communication as their primary means of communication on a lifelong basis. Others, although they have developed functional or fluent language skills, will return to the use of echolalia when they experience stress or anxiety. Extensive echolalia is still a classic sign of difficulty with formulating creative verbal expression within a given set of circumstances. It frequently reflects problems with comprehension either in terms of orienting to and understanding oral language in general or in selective circumstances.
