Expert: James Michael Roan - 12/16/2009

Question
QUESTION: Dear Mr. Roan,

My daughter is 31 months old and is quite the chatterbox.  After getting a bit of a late start with her language development(didn't put 2 words together until about 25 months), she now regularly putting 3-5 word sentences together and using nouns, verbs and adjectives.  Overall, I felt that she was age-appropriate with her language skills.

However, last night I happened upon a website about echolalia, and it does have me slightly concerned.  

My concerns as it relates to delayed echolalia:
•         My daughter, Brooklyn, has an amazing memory.  Truly, everyone is astounded by it.  She has always enjoyed reading books, and has memorized most of them.  In fact, once I’ve read a book to her 4-5 times, she knows most of the words.  If you turn to any given page in the book, she will recite the words, nearly word for word.  But she will also spout out with memorized phrases from her favorite stories multiple times throughout the day, even when it’s not related at all to what we are doing during the day.  Example – Nearly every morning, once she wakes up and we go in the living room she’ll say, “With a stomp, stomp, stomp.  And a trot, trot, trot.  And a skippity, skip, skip.”  This is one of her favorite lines from The Three Bears.  Now that I think about it, she has done this for quite some time, even in front of her pediatrician once, who didn’t mention any concerns about it.  I didn’t realize this was a problem; I just thought it was one of her little quirks that I adore.  From what I read last night though, this can be an issue.
•         She still does not use pronouns correctly.  She still refers to herself as Brooklyn (which I realize is still fairly common at 31 months).  She will often say, “Mommy, hold you,” when she wants me to pick her up.  
•         She frequently repeats phrases she hears me say, though they are usually within the correct context.  Example – Many mornings when she wakes up, I’ll ask her, “Did you have a good night’s sleep?”  Lately, when she wakes up from nap and is in a pleasant mood, she’ll greet me with, “Good night’s sleep.”  I believe she’s trying to tell me that she napped well, but repeats a phrase I’ve used.

I’m not thinking ASD, because other than this possible delayed echolalia, she does not have any other typical autism characteristics.  I completed an M-CHAT checklist, and there are no areas of concern.  Her eye contact and interaction is age-appropriate.  She asks questions frequently.  (Ex – “What’s Daddy doing?”  She loves to ask this question…multiple times…..even when she knows what he’s doing.  I think she’s trying to be funny.  She will also ask me, “What’s Brooklyn doing?” when she is doing something silly.)  She points to objects and responds to her name.  She will also answer questions appropriately most of the time.  (Ex – One day, I thought she had put something in her mouth.  I asked her what was in her mouth.  She said, “Just a tongue.”)  She also does initiate conversation and wants/needs appropriately.

However, I would like your professional opinion about this.  Again, this behavior is nothing new; she’s been memorizing her books for quite some time (even when she was only using single words….she would finish every sentence in every book).  I also distinctly remember her saying at Sesame Place during a visit there this past summer summer, “Bye animals.  Squirrels.  Lizards.”  Our neighbors has figurines of squirrels and lizards on their front steps, and for a few weeks, whenever we left our house, she would say this.

Do you feel that this is just developmental in nature and there is no need for concern?  Or is there possibly a bit more to this?

Thank you in advance,
Jenn


ANSWER: Hi Jenn;

I don't believe you have anything to be concerned about! True echolalia refers to when you ask a child a question and they respond by repeating your question back to you, indicating they have little to no understanding of language (receptive language). Happy Holidays!

Kind regards,
James

Please understand that I do not, at any time, attempt to diagnose or rule out a diagnosis or condition over the Internet.

Disclaimer:

While James Michael Roan has attempted to make the information on this web site as accurate as possible, the information is provided in good faith without any express or implied warranty. The purpose of this web site is to provide information to families with children, teens, and adults with an autism spectrum disorder or other developmental delay. James Michael Roan does not prefer any one organization to another, and it is not responsible for the information listed on an organization's web site, or any disseminated information either verbal or written. Please be advised we are not giving medical advice and that circumstances can dictate different treatments. If these issues affect you or your loved ones you should seek professional advice. This site is operated for informational purposes only. At no time will James Michael Roan attempt to diagnose or dismiss a potential diagnosis over the Internet. We hope that you find our resources useful.


Bio

James Roan is a certified school psychologist who has been consulting in the areas of autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, and learning difficulties in the United States and in Ireland for over ten years (http://www.jamesroan.com). James earned his M.Ed. in School Psychology and M. Ed. in Adult Education and receives ongoing post graduate training in autism at the University of Washington’s Autism Center. James Roan has traveled to Galway, Limerick, Mayo, Clare, Dublin, Cork, Waterford, and other cities and counties across Ireland assessing children and adults, and consulting with solicitors (lawyers) in defense of children with disabilities. James Roan was the consulting assessment professional responsible for many of the autism and AD/HD screening tools and other content for Access Special Needs.Com. James Roan consulted with the graduate department of the Waterford Institute of Technology in Waterford Ireland in the development of their graduate program for the certification of private autism tutors. James has conducted formal assessments of students in the Autism Unit in the Claddagh National School in County Galway Ireland.






---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Mr. Roan,
Thank you for your prompt reply.  Regarding your response, she does repeat a question I ask of her sometimes, but will follow that with an appropriate answer.  (I would estimate she does this maybe 25% of the time.)  For example, if I ask her, "What are you doing?" she will respond with, "What are you doing?"  slight pause "Brooklyn's reading a book."

Before she was on par with her speech, I had to work hard with her on her questioning skills.  In fact, she didn't ask any until about 26 months or so.  I've always thought that my constant repetition of questioning has likely caused her to do the same.  Do you agree with this?

Thank you again,
Jenn

Answer
Hi Jenn;

I really cannot speak to this issue in any more depth. You should speak with a speech and language pathologist.

Kind regards,
James



Please understand that I do not, at any time, attempt to diagnose or rule out a diagnosis or condition over the Internet.

Disclaimer:

While James Michael Roan has attempted to make the information on this web site as accurate as possible, the information is provided in good faith without any express or implied warranty. The purpose of this web site is to provide information to families with children, teens, and adults with an autism spectrum disorder or other developmental delay. James Michael Roan does not prefer any one organization to another, and it is not responsible for the information listed on an organization's web site, or any disseminated information either verbal or written. Please be advised we are not giving medical advice and that circumstances can dictate different treatments. If these issues affect you or your loved ones you should seek professional advice. This site is operated for informational purposes only. At no time will James Michael Roan attempt to diagnose or dismiss a potential diagnosis over the Internet. We hope that you find our resources useful.


Bio

James Roan is a certified school psychologist who has been consulting in the areas of autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, and learning difficulties in the United States and in Ireland for over ten years (http://www.jamesroan.com). James earned his M.Ed. in School Psychology and M. Ed. in Adult Education and receives ongoing post graduate training in autism at the University of Washington’s Autism Center. James Roan has traveled to Galway, Limerick, Mayo, Clare, Dublin, Cork, Waterford, and other cities and counties across Ireland assessing children and adults, and consulting with solicitors (lawyers) in defense of children with disabilities. James Roan was the consulting assessment professional responsible for many of the autism and AD/HD screening tools and other content for Access Special Needs.Com. James Roan consulted with the graduate department of the Waterford Institute of Technology in Waterford Ireland in the development of their graduate program for the certification of private autism tutors. James has conducted formal assessments of students in the Autism Unit in the Claddagh National School in County Galway Ireland.