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Is Echolalia In Children A Neurological Disorder?

Posted on Mon, 11 Sep 2017

Question: 3-year old. Male repeating everything being spoken around him. Is this something medical to be concerned about? .

Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
If this persists, then visit a Pediatric Neurologist.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist, here to answer your query.

This may be a normal behavior for a child in a phase when his language functions are developing.He actually wants to expand his dictionary. In fact, this is usual with many children.

Hope that helps.If you have any further questions,I shall be glad to have you in follow-up.

Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ajay Panwar (8 hours later)

Good Morning Dr. and thank you for your time. I wish I could say that I am satisfied with your response but am not. We selected a Neurologist becaue we did not see Pediatrif Neurologist. We already knew which specialty to choose which means in follow-up that we know to take him to a Pediatric Neurologist. What we are interested in knowing from you is what the possibilities might be? What are your first thoughts related to the cause for this? This would be information helpful to know before we get to a Pediatric Neurologist.
Thanks,
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Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (22 hours later)

Brief Answer:
I hope already clearly mentioned about my first thoughts.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for being in follow-up.

Its unfortunate that I could not convey my first thoughts with my above mentioned response,however, I very clearly said that this is most likely to be normal,and unless you are very much worried about the same, the best thing would be to wait and observe. This is not indicative of a disease.Many young children often try to repeat whetever they listen, because it is a part of their language development.

Hope that helps.If you have some further questions,I shall be glad to have you in follow-up.

Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Ajay Panwar (7 hours later)

I am now more satisfied especially with you mentioning "development". Having just barely turned Age 3, he has only within just begun in the past month transitioned from babble to forming actual words. And now that I think about it, he only repeats what his Mom is saying when she is in the middle of a discussion with someone and he is sitting near her. He mimics her. Funny enough, this could be his way of saying, "I am ready to go, Mom, you;re talking too long?" (sort of an intentional disruption) which could get him in trouble. Instead, he repeats what she says. It makes sense now that he is in this vocabulary-form phase. Thank you!
ccc

Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (12 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You're most welcome.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for being in follow-up.

That's exactly what I wanted to make you understand.Anyway, it was a good interaction with you.

Please be in follow-up if you have any query in future.For now, if you have no further questions,please close the thread,rate it and write a review.

Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj