Verbal tic of echoing

[ThatFraggle]

Has anyone encountered this: someone who always repeats what has been said to them.

E.g. "would you like a cup of tea?"
"Cup of tea"

"We are going to Southampton "
"Southampton."

Even if it were being hard of hearing, sometimes the context makes the word obvious. E.g. "We've run out of milk. I'm just going to the shops." "Going to the shops."

What is the reason for this?

It can occur with autism. It's not a defining feature of ASC though, but some people have echolalia or other repetitious habits of speech. Or could be entirely unrelated.

My oldest friend does it all the time drives me insane

Echolalia is something that goes along with ASD.

However, my (ASD) teen often says I do it and as far as I know I don't have an ASC I think it comes from working with children and modelling speech that it's a habit I carry over into my home life.

My mother in law used to do it, echoing back the last few words of whatever you'd just said. She was extremely socially odd and self absorbed. I think it was her way of trying to join in with the conversation without actually having either the skill or the interest to do it appropriately. Used to drive me mad

What is the reason for this?

There could be many reasons. One of mine has echolalia and he is autistic. Some people are just irritating. Some people have hearing problems and are confirming the heard correctly.

Nobody can give you a reason with no context.

I have a friend who does this. I always presume she just likes to join in/show accord with what people are saying.

To my knowledge she's neurotypical, and unlike Lotta's MIL, is not self absorbed.

I am autistic and people say I do this

Autism does not equal self absorbed...

Echolalia can be part of autism. It's a bit like a processing difference where they're processing what they just heard/taking part in conversation.

@HidingInAForest

Autism does not equal self absorbed...

Nobody has said this.

My elderly father does this. He has Aspergers, or ASD as it's now known. He says he does it as he is re confirming what has been said as he likes everything to be concise. It is extremely annoying, and it seems to get worse as he ages.

Oh yes, and he is also very self absorbed.

The word “autism” is composed of two parts, “aut” and “ism.” The prefix of the word is “aut,” which comes from the Greek word “autós,” meaning “self.” The suffix “ism,” also from Greek, implies a state of being or condition.

Many people with Autism have difficulties understanding other people (feelings, intentions etc) and as a result can appear to be 'in their own world'. This is not a critism of a diagnostic feature of a medical condition.

'Autism does not equal self absorbed...'

I said my mother in law was self absorbed, I didn't say she was autistic

Can also be caused by stroke, brain injury, some types of dementia, some mental illness.

My DD (now 8) did this when she was very anxious as she was being bullied and in a toxic school environment. Since moving school she is now happy & thriving and all the signs of anxiety - the repeating/muttering everything (and it really was everything she said) being the most obvious - have completely vanished.