Comments on: I Heart Echolalia

By: bluevwlady

bluevwlady — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 02:13:45 +0000

My son , age 19, is hard of hearing, so would probably have a deaf drawl if he spoke, but he is very quiet and has echolalia. He does walk in and act out something he saw and heard of Toy Story , a brief three word spot. The only time his face shows expression.He is autisic, mild now. He still doesn’t like to wear clothes, so on his highschool graduation day at a party in our home, he wore his boxers!! Everyone said it was HIS day and they didn’t mind. I think any words are awesome! He learned a saying” can I have a drink please?” when he was 5 and still uses it.
The only full sentence he speaks.
He can’t even sign full sentences, but does get his message across. We are looking into a IPOD touch program that will speak for him so he can try to get out into the world someday….I don’t know if that will be possible without an aid, but I have faith.If anyone wants to ask me questions I would love to hear from you. bluevwlady@yahoo.com

By: M

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:35:48 +0000

and the phrases are windows into his personality. something about those particular words stuck with him. So…even if it’s not clear why he’s choosing one phrase over another…it’s him doing the choosing, the expressing. Like you’re saying, notes that indicate a larger song (i do love your descriptions. The way you can take something that, as you indicate, some parents dislike, and find a certain poetry in it…that’s a beautiful thing to do).

Hope you guys are well…recovered from the recent ailments.

By: jess

jess — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:47:08 +0000

you know, the guys i work with (all typical as the day is long) recite movie scripts day in and day out . they amuse each other with the perfect line from caddyshack or try to stump one another with a more obscure reference.

who knows? it might serve our kids well one day.

in the meantime, the comfort of it – YES.

we try so hard to walk this fine line between ‘normalizing’ our kids’ behavior to allow them some peace from juddgement and allowing them to revel in the comfort and security that they find in it.

it’s so, so important to realize that there is a benefit for our kids in what they do. they find what they need. i’d hate to strip my little one of the things that can help her calm .herself.

By: mama mara

mama mara — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:34:17 +0000

This positive spin on echolalia is yet another reason why I heart you, Tanya.

By: Fearless Females

Fearless Females — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:33:52 +0000

I agree! Nick used to quote from movies or shows that he likes more than he does now–his communication at 14 is so much better because he explored words and expressions, etc. My daughter, Meghan, doesn’t speak but has been practicing repeating words from me. So yeah! And it’s never too late to work on and perfect communication, just one step at a time is what I’ve learned!

By: Casdok

Casdok — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:58:54 +0000

As you know C dosnt speak at all, which i have totaly accepted.

But i would heart echolalia too if he one day decided to use his voice. So i cannot understand anyone wanting to stop it. Even his ear piercing shrieks are music to my ears!