How To Diagnose And Treat Echolalia
Echolalia is a condition in which children repeat back sounds, words, or other vocalizations for no apparent reason. It is very common for young children to use this method of communication as they are learning and developing language. The problem, however, arises when the child continues to use this form of communication. There are various reasons a child might develop echolalia, including brain damage and delayed speech. Some might think the way a child is cute by not answering questions properly. It is all part of being a toddler. However, if parents notice it continues, and their child does not speak many of their own words, they may want them to get evaluated by a professional.
Method Of Diagnosis
The method of diagnosing echolalia can be tricky, and it might take a multi-pronged approach. During the diagnosis of the condition, the reason for the repeated speech needs to be evaluated. Obtaining this information can result in different methods of treatment. It is important to have a speech therapist be one of the professionals evaluating the child, as they have the skills to determine why the speech is happening and why the child is not progressing.
Additionally, because echolalia can be present in autistic children, this aspect needs to be taken into consideration. All the issues presented by the child need to be evaluated so they can get the most effective treatment. So, if parents notice their child is not really making sentences of their own, repeating a question then answering it, or showing frustration during a conversation, it is a good idea to get it checked out. They make sure they are giving medical professionals as much information as possible for the best diagnosis.
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Medication For Side Effects
If echolalia is combined with epilepsy or schizophrenia, those conditions can be treated with medication. In addition to that medicine, it may be necessary to prescribe medication for side effects associated with anti-seizure or anti-psychotic medications. Furthermore, since echolalia is prevalent in autistic children, medication may be prescribed to help with symptoms of that disorder, but not specifically for echolalia. Interestingly, echolalia can be seen as a good sign in autistic children because it helps them develop speech. However, other situations, like brain damage or speech delays, will not benefit from medication. While underlying conditions can be treated for echolalia, the disorder itself is not treated with medication, and if the underlying condition is treated with medication, there is a chance echolalia will change how it presents in the patient.
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Speech Therapy
Speech therapy is probably the most widely used tool for children with echolalia, though the therapist needs to evaluate the patient to find out the cause of the condition before putting together any treatment plan. There are interactive and non-interactive types of echolalia, and the therapist will be able to determine which kind is present simply from having a conversation. This therapy will help the child learn to say what they are thinking. Sometimes, patients suffering from echolalia cannot get the words out. It is the job of the speech therapist to help them verbalize what they want to say and to say it correctly. Therapists have many different ways they help with speech. Some therapy may include asking a question and then repeating back what should be said. Doing this repeatedly will help the patient rethink what they are saying and communicate better.
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At Home Training
If the patient is seeing a speech therapist for echolalia, they should receive homework to do when they leave so they can do at home training. Continuing on the exercises being taught by the therapist is very important, as the more they practice, the more their brain will be retrained to respond appropriately. Patients may only see a speech therapist once a week, but between sessions, they should be continuing the lessons. Without continuing the exercises, the patient is more likely to forget what they learned and go back to old speech patterns. This means the therapy will take much longer and not have as much of an impact as it could on the patient's speech and language patterns. If the therapist does not already have a physical paper, patients or another party should make sure to take notes during the session, or specifically request instructions to be printed off.
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Encourage Other Communication Methods
Encouraging other communication methods with someone suffering from echolalia is important. It can be very frustrating to think about what you want to say in your head and not be able to properly communicate it. Sometimes individuals with echolalia will simply not speak because it is too hard and frustrating. This is when others should have a backup plan to help them communicate, even if its one word at a time. The person needs to know someone will wait as long as it takes and help them in any way they can, so they can tell you what they are thinking. Without support, patients with echolalia can feel isolated or embarrassed and fall into depression or suffer from anxiety. Other ways of communication could mean sign language, writing, visual cues, and more.