Where There Is an Echo, There Is an Intention: Understanding the Echolalia Phenomenon of Children With Epilepsy and Autism

Abstract

Echolalia is a typical feature of children with epilepsy and autism, but whether it is pathological is still controversial. This article aims to explore the contentious issue of echolalia based on data from three selected children with epilepsy and autism. Through discourse analysis, we explored two types of echolalia: immediate echolalia and delayed echolalia. It was found that the two types of echolalia were used to achieve interactional function, interpersonal function, and experiential function. Our research also found that the echolalia phenomenon reflected the participants’ pragmatic awareness when dealing with new information. This article will contribute to understanding echolalia in children with epilepsy and autism and provide intervention methods for children with language impairment.