Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Echolalia?Echolalia and ADHDDiagnosisTreatmentADHD and Language DevelopmentOther Conditions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Echolalia?
Echolalia and ADHD
Diagnosis
Treatment
ADHD and Language Development
Other Conditions
Echolalia, a disorder that occurs when a person repeats speech they’ve heard (either right away or later on) is common in people diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD and its traits of hyperactivity, impulsivity, orinattention(depending on ADHD type) typically begin in childhood and continue into adolescence.
This article will explain why people diagnosed with ADHD often show signs of echolalia, along with other ADHD traits. It discusses types of echolalia, their diagnosis, and echolalia treatment options.
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Echolalia describes the repetition of language that’s heard. It isn’t a one-off episode or the occasional quote to make a specific point. It’s an oft-repeated behavior that may seem meaningless but is believed to have several purposes.
Echolalia ismost associated with ASD, but it isn’t limited to it and can occur with ADHD, too.
Types of Echolalia
Echolalia can also be mitigated, meaning the person changes the wording to some extent when repeating it. It’s common for people who use echolalia to mislabel pronouns. For example, they may say, “You want to watch cartoons?” as a way to indicate they want cartoons themselves.
Language, Autism, and ADHDLanguage development issues are common with autism but can also happen with ADHD for different reasons. Echolalia is common among autistic people but is also seen in those with ADHD traits and other diagnoses.Keep in mind that some people are diagnosed with both autism and ADHD, but they are differentneurodivergentdevelopmental conditions.
Language, Autism, and ADHD
Language development issues are common with autism but can also happen with ADHD for different reasons. Echolalia is common among autistic people but is also seen in those with ADHD traits and other diagnoses.Keep in mind that some people are diagnosed with both autism and ADHD, but they are differentneurodivergentdevelopmental conditions.
Echolalia in Autism
Traits and Symptoms
Echolalia usually develops when a person doesn’t have or doesn’t use the typical language for communication.The echolalia trait largely depends on the purpose behind it. Someone exhibiting echolalia may repeat phrases they’ve heard on television, as if from a favorite script.Or, they may simply repeat words in response to what someone else just said.
This can affect the ability to make and communicate decisions. It doesn’t mean people who use echolalia can’t indicate their preferences, but that they tend to merely “echo back” is something to consider when asking between choices. Other examples include:
Echolalia can manifest in myriad ways beyond these examples but is usually done as a way to communicate with others, to reinforce information for themselves, or to self-regulate behavior.
What Are ADHD Symptoms and How Do They Affect People?
Children with ADHD can experience language delays. While this may not result in echolalia, language delays are one cause of echolalia.
Stimming is common in both ASD and ADHD, though it isn’t expressed in the same way in both conditions. For people with ADHD, stimming is typically used for a short period of time (generally under an hour) and usually while trying to concentrate. Anautistic person may stimfor several hours at a time.
Stims associated with ADHD tend to be physical, such as hand/pencil tapping or hair twisting—but stims come in a variety of behaviors and include all of the senses.
ASD and ADHDASD and ADHD are two distinct conditions with separate criteria for diagnosis, but they often occur together.Some children with ADHD showautism traitsand vice versa, even if they don’t meet the full criteria for a diagnosis of both.
ASD and ADHD
ASD and ADHD are two distinct conditions with separate criteria for diagnosis, but they often occur together.Some children with ADHD showautism traitsand vice versa, even if they don’t meet the full criteria for a diagnosis of both.
There are no tests to diagnose ADHD per se, but your healthcare provider may order tests to rule out another condition. They may includebrain imaging testslikecomputed tomography(CT scans) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They also may order blood tests.
ADHD Criteria for Diagnosis
Trying to immediately extinguish echolalia is not often advised, as it serves a purpose. People using it do so as a way to communicate, self-regulate, self-soothe, and engage in it as a helpful behavior.
Treatment usually involves building communication skills that gradually replace the echolalia. The first step in the process is determining why the person uses echolalia so that you know what needs must be met and which tools to give them to do so.
Speech Therapy
Treatment for echolalia usually involves a speech therapist. A speech therapist has a variety of tools at their disposal, including play therapy, to assess language skills and promote the building of new ones.
Aspeech therapistcan also look for and address other language difficulties that may or may not be related to echolalia.
If echolalia is comforting or purposeful to the person, a speech therapist can teach them appropriate times and ways in which to use it.
Music Therapy
Music therapy relies on listening and interacting with music in order to connect with feelings or build an alternate “language” for communication.It’s often used in treating autistic people (including those who are nonverbal and lack language skills) and may be useful in building communication skills beyond echolalia.
Multiple studies suggest music therapy benefits in treating people diagnosed with ADHD or in co-occurring conditions like depression.There may be a role for music applied through video game play, too, with research underway to assess these impacts.
Music can be used to help people with ADHD build memory, just as musical jingles are used in advertising to create memory pathways.Music also can serve as an area of competence, with many neurodivergent people showing strong skills in music, theater, and other creative arts.
How Music Therapy Can Improve Physical and Mental Health
Medication
Medication is not considered a first-line treatment at all for people with echolalia symptoms of any cause.When it is tried, the medication is meant for a specific underlying condition that leads to the echolalia, such as stroke, seizures, or schizophrenia.
Fintepla (fenfluramine) is an older drug that has been used to treat echolalia symptoms in autistic people but with mixed results.Some beta-blockers show promise in treating autism-related echolalia.Other treatments (antidepressant or antianxiety medication) may be prescribed.
ADHD medication, such as stimulants, can reduce the need for stimming in a person with ADHD, including echolalia.
People diagnosed withinattentive ADHDoften have trouble paying attention or listening, which can affect language development. Those with hyperactive ADHD, or a combination of the two, may talk or interrupt often but still struggle with appropriate communication.
If echolalia is happening in a way that is disruptive to themselves or others, try to find out what is making the person with ADHD feel anxious, uneasy, or bored when they do it, and work on other ways they can calm down or engage that are less disruptive.
Echolalia is associated with autism traits. It’s uncommon after childhood, butautistic adultsmay use echolalia just as autistic children do. It also may arise in people with certain psychiatric conditions (likecatatonia) or a history of head trauma that makes relearning language necessary.
It’s worth noting that in some people, when echolalia does occur, it’s only when they’re anxious or stressed and may be associated with these conditions.
Summary
Echolalia is a common autism trait but also can occur with ADHD. Some people with ADHD use echolalia as a stimming behavior to self-stimulate or self-soothe.
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17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Mental Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Pruccoli J, Spadoni C, Orsenigo A, Parmeggiani A.Should echolalia be considered a phonic stereotypy? A narrative review.Brain Sci. 2021;11(7):862. doi:10.3390/brainsci11070862Blackburn C, Tueres M, Sandanayake N, Roberts J, Sutherland R.A systematic review of interventions for echolalia in autistic children.Int J Lang Commun Disord. 2023;58(6):1977-1993. doi:10.1111/1460-6984.12931Fitzgerald CE.Feature-based classification of pronoun errors: implications for clinical practice.Perspect ASHA SIGs. 2020;5(1):55-66. doi: 10.1044/2019_PERS-19-00067Loo KK, Cheng J, Sarco D, Nyp SS.Diagnostic overshadowing: insidious neuroregression mimicking presentation of autism spectrum disorder.J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2022;43(7):437-439. doi:10.1097/DBP.0000000000001109Antshel KM, Russo N.Autism spectrum disorders and ADHD: overlapping phenomenology, diagnostic issues, and treatment considerations.Curr Psychiatry Rep.2019;21(5):34. doi:10.1007/s11920-019-1020-5Ascend Pediatric Therapies.Echolalia and jargon: defined.Indiana Resource Center Autism.Functional categories of immediate echolalia.A.D.D. Resource Center.The effects of ADHD on communication.Okyar E, Görker I.Examining the autistic traits in children and adolescents diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and their parents.BMC Psychiatry. 2020;20(1):285. doi:10.1186/s12888-020-02703-zSpeech & Occupational Therapy of North Texas.Echolalia: causes, symptoms, types, diagnosis, and treatment.CPD Online College.What is echolalia?.American Music Therapy Association.What is music therapy?.Martin-Moratinos M, Bella-Fernández M, Blasco-Fontecilla H.Effects of music on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and potential application in serious video games: systematic review.J Med Internet Res. 2023;25:e37742. doi:10.2196/37742Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.Making memories with ADHD.McFayden TC, Kennison SM, Bowers JM.Echolalia from a transdiagnostic perspective.Autism Dev Lang Impair. 2022;7:23969415221140464. doi:10.1177/23969415221140464AAFP National Research.DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for ADHD.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Mental Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Pruccoli J, Spadoni C, Orsenigo A, Parmeggiani A.Should echolalia be considered a phonic stereotypy? A narrative review.Brain Sci. 2021;11(7):862. doi:10.3390/brainsci11070862Blackburn C, Tueres M, Sandanayake N, Roberts J, Sutherland R.A systematic review of interventions for echolalia in autistic children.Int J Lang Commun Disord. 2023;58(6):1977-1993. doi:10.1111/1460-6984.12931Fitzgerald CE.Feature-based classification of pronoun errors: implications for clinical practice.Perspect ASHA SIGs. 2020;5(1):55-66. doi: 10.1044/2019_PERS-19-00067Loo KK, Cheng J, Sarco D, Nyp SS.Diagnostic overshadowing: insidious neuroregression mimicking presentation of autism spectrum disorder.J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2022;43(7):437-439. doi:10.1097/DBP.0000000000001109Antshel KM, Russo N.Autism spectrum disorders and ADHD: overlapping phenomenology, diagnostic issues, and treatment considerations.Curr Psychiatry Rep.2019;21(5):34. doi:10.1007/s11920-019-1020-5Ascend Pediatric Therapies.Echolalia and jargon: defined.Indiana Resource Center Autism.Functional categories of immediate echolalia.A.D.D. Resource Center.The effects of ADHD on communication.Okyar E, Görker I.Examining the autistic traits in children and adolescents diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and their parents.BMC Psychiatry. 2020;20(1):285. doi:10.1186/s12888-020-02703-zSpeech & Occupational Therapy of North Texas.Echolalia: causes, symptoms, types, diagnosis, and treatment.CPD Online College.What is echolalia?.American Music Therapy Association.What is music therapy?.Martin-Moratinos M, Bella-Fernández M, Blasco-Fontecilla H.Effects of music on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and potential application in serious video games: systematic review.J Med Internet Res. 2023;25:e37742. doi:10.2196/37742Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.Making memories with ADHD.McFayden TC, Kennison SM, Bowers JM.Echolalia from a transdiagnostic perspective.Autism Dev Lang Impair. 2022;7:23969415221140464. doi:10.1177/23969415221140464AAFP National Research.DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for ADHD.
National Institute of Mental Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Pruccoli J, Spadoni C, Orsenigo A, Parmeggiani A.Should echolalia be considered a phonic stereotypy? A narrative review.Brain Sci. 2021;11(7):862. doi:10.3390/brainsci11070862
Blackburn C, Tueres M, Sandanayake N, Roberts J, Sutherland R.A systematic review of interventions for echolalia in autistic children.Int J Lang Commun Disord. 2023;58(6):1977-1993. doi:10.1111/1460-6984.12931
Fitzgerald CE.Feature-based classification of pronoun errors: implications for clinical practice.Perspect ASHA SIGs. 2020;5(1):55-66. doi: 10.1044/2019_PERS-19-00067
Loo KK, Cheng J, Sarco D, Nyp SS.Diagnostic overshadowing: insidious neuroregression mimicking presentation of autism spectrum disorder.J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2022;43(7):437-439. doi:10.1097/DBP.0000000000001109
Antshel KM, Russo N.Autism spectrum disorders and ADHD: overlapping phenomenology, diagnostic issues, and treatment considerations.Curr Psychiatry Rep.2019;21(5):34. doi:10.1007/s11920-019-1020-5
Ascend Pediatric Therapies.Echolalia and jargon: defined.
Indiana Resource Center Autism.Functional categories of immediate echolalia.
A.D.D. Resource Center.The effects of ADHD on communication.
Okyar E, Görker I.Examining the autistic traits in children and adolescents diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and their parents.BMC Psychiatry. 2020;20(1):285. doi:10.1186/s12888-020-02703-z
Speech & Occupational Therapy of North Texas.Echolalia: causes, symptoms, types, diagnosis, and treatment.
CPD Online College.What is echolalia?.
American Music Therapy Association.What is music therapy?.
Martin-Moratinos M, Bella-Fernández M, Blasco-Fontecilla H.Effects of music on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and potential application in serious video games: systematic review.J Med Internet Res. 2023;25:e37742. doi:10.2196/37742
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.Making memories with ADHD.
McFayden TC, Kennison SM, Bowers JM.Echolalia from a transdiagnostic perspective.Autism Dev Lang Impair. 2022;7:23969415221140464. doi:10.1177/23969415221140464
AAFP National Research.DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for ADHD.
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