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Original poster

4 year old suddenly using echolalia

10 replies

Emmzie2130 · 02/11/2025 19:40

Basically what the title says.

My 4 year old has suddenly started copying some stuff we say through out the day. A good chunk actually. Not sure why. He's quite good at talking himself although his speech is still a little unclear at times.

He used echolalia as a baby but its just odd that this past week that it's suddenly come back. I've thought he's autistic as he's has some sensory issues with touch and is scared of alot of things you wouldn't be scared of (birthday candles/songs as well as people being upset with him for being naughty) he also uses alot of jargon while he's playing with his toys or just walking up stairs etc and if his friends for nursery speak to him he sometimes stands there moving side to side with his tongue out acting akward and he doesnt speak back... (he does sometimes copy there actions etc) also he has eating issues where he wont eat by himself and complains he wants fed etc But I had him seen by a pediatrician back in June/July time and she said she couldn't see autism..

Unsure what to do given he's gone back to using echolalia is it just a phase or do I need to go back on the waiting list for another assessment?

OP posts:
ButWhysTheRumGone · 02/11/2025 23:55

I’d push for an assessment. He sounds like my Ds who constantly repeated a few words/phrases. Would talk incessantly when alone. Just random stuff. Repeating lines from tv or a song over and over randomly. He’s now 10 and on the autism and ADHD pathways. Lots of sensory issues, some food issues and a little bundle of anxiety about so many things. I had to push but finally at the start of year 5 his teachers started seeing what I could see and he was referred by the senco. It took until I was 48 to be diagnosed. Lots will come along and tell you how everyone’s autistic these days and no one is allowed a personality anymore 🙄 but please trust your instincts as a mum. I wish you and your son all the best.

SleafordSods · 03/11/2025 07:08

What tools did the Paediatrician use to assess your DS @Emmzie2130?

Did you have to fill in the Social & Emotional Ages & Stages?

I agree that even though you’ve been told he doesn’t have ASD, it does sound as though he has. Did the Paediatrician give any explanation as to why he behaves like this if it’s not ASD?

I would do this progress checker from Speech and language UK. If it says he needs some support, he’ll need a referral for a hearing test and some SaLT. You can ask your HV for these. I would also ask her for a referral to Portage and see if she will do that.

I would also ask for the Nursery’s SENCO to assess him.

If he’s having issues with food, has anyone suggested it may be ARFID?

Original poster
Emmzie2130 · 03/11/2025 10:52

SleafordSods · 03/11/2025 07:08

What tools did the Paediatrician use to assess your DS @Emmzie2130?

Did you have to fill in the Social & Emotional Ages & Stages?

I agree that even though you’ve been told he doesn’t have ASD, it does sound as though he has. Did the Paediatrician give any explanation as to why he behaves like this if it’s not ASD?

I would do this progress checker from Speech and language UK. If it says he needs some support, he’ll need a referral for a hearing test and some SaLT. You can ask your HV for these. I would also ask her for a referral to Portage and see if she will do that.

I would also ask for the Nursery’s SENCO to assess him.

If he’s having issues with food, has anyone suggested it may be ARFID?

We didn't get anything to fill out no. We got asked during the appointment what our concerns with and then she spent around an hour testing him with books/cards/toys and getting him up and moving etc etc. She ended the appointment by just saying there's no clear signs of autism but he needs help with speech clarity so signed us up for salt and hearing test which we are still waiting for. She said its not enough that he's just hitting 1 of the categories for autism that he needs all 3. Which I think he has...

I did the progress checker I only clicked not sure two or three times all the others seemed fine but said he needs support.

We are going to ask his nursery about senco today.

No one has brought up arfid to us... we had him at the gp for his poor eating last year hoping they'd help but they just told us lots of kids are fussy eaters 😅

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SleafordSods · 10/11/2025 06:46

Glad that they’ve been referred for a hearing test and some SaLT.

Is your LO in a the right age range for this assessment and if so, how do they score?

Have you managed to get a referral to portage too?

Original poster
Emmzie2130 · 10/11/2025 09:52

SleafordSods · 10/11/2025 06:46

Glad that they’ve been referred for a hearing test and some SaLT.

Is your LO in a the right age range for this assessment and if so, how do they score?

Have you managed to get a referral to portage too?

Hi he's at the right age so I'll do that assessment tonight with my husband.

I didn't manage to get portage nursery don't seem concerned.

OP posts:
SleafordSods · 11/11/2025 07:06

Let us know how they score on the assessment Flowers

Original poster
Emmzie2130 · 11/11/2025 22:46

SleafordSods · 11/11/2025 07:06

Let us know how they score on the assessment Flowers

Hi I did the assessment and he scored a no or low risk (he scored 60)

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 11/11/2025 22:55

Echolalia is a normal part of language use, for example things like idioms or advertising slogans are commonly used examples of echolalia. It's more noticeable in autistic children because they use it a lot more than most people do, and because they tend to mimic the exact intonation of the phrase and say it in the same way every time, which most people don't exactly (although you can see aspects of this e.g. if someone uses a catchprase from a TV programme as a joke or shared reference)

At four occasional use of echolalia isn't a concern but of course if you're seeing lots of things which seem to add up then keep noting them down, or take a video and save it in a folder. They might come in useful later, and it's helpful to have ages to refer back to.

Original poster
Emmzie2130 · 11/11/2025 23:11

BertieBotts · 11/11/2025 22:55

Echolalia is a normal part of language use, for example things like idioms or advertising slogans are commonly used examples of echolalia. It's more noticeable in autistic children because they use it a lot more than most people do, and because they tend to mimic the exact intonation of the phrase and say it in the same way every time, which most people don't exactly (although you can see aspects of this e.g. if someone uses a catchprase from a TV programme as a joke or shared reference)

At four occasional use of echolalia isn't a concern but of course if you're seeing lots of things which seem to add up then keep noting them down, or take a video and save it in a folder. They might come in useful later, and it's helpful to have ages to refer back to.

When he's copying what I say its usually with the same tones I use like if I shout daddddy in a sing songy tone he copies the exact same way and if I say it again in a deeper tone he again then copies the exact same way but I'm not sure if this would count as a worry? Or if he's just finding it fun?

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 12/11/2025 23:54

Maybe he's just playing a game? If it's not flagging up in screenings etc and there are no problems then just make a note of it somewhere to come back to later.

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