#echomimia

[autism-asks]

What is echolalia?

Echolalia is the repetition of words or phrases orally. This can be saying the same word over and over (potato potato potato potato) or it can be repeating a word or phrase you previously heard/said. For instance, I often respond to people with “All good things, all good things” which is a quote from Olaf from Frozen. I even hear it in his voice when I say it. Echolalia also overlaps with scripting in that it can be repeating things that you yourself have previously said. 

Basically, echolalia is echoing speech. Echolalia is part of a broader classification of behaviors known as echophenomena which include the following:

Echolalia: the repetition of words or sounds orally

Echolalioplasia: the repetition of sign language

Echologia: the repetition of words or sounds in thought

Echomimia: the repetition of facial expressions

Echopraxia: the repetition of movements

Echographia: the repetition of words when written or typed

Echoplasia: the repetition of physically or mentally tracing the contours of objects

I hope this helps!

-Sabrina

[autism-asks]

there are a few things i do and i was wondering if they were echophenomena or not. 1) doodling the same thing over and over again in school books and notebooks, (i've been drawing the same flower in my school books for years) 2) repeating or wanting to repeat words out loud after reading them in a book 3) mimicking one of my favorite character's facial expressions/pretending i am them after watching a show 4) murmuring the same phrase out loud when feeling stressed/awkward/uncomfortable

I would say that numbers 2, 3, and 4 are definitely echophenomena. 2 and 4 sound like echolalia, and 3 is called echomimia (the repetition of facial expressions). 

The only reason I hesitate to call number 1 an echophenomenon is that I don’t believe there’s a specific name for it. That being said, it is similar enough to echographia (the repetition of written/typed words) that I would guess it does count as echophenomena, even if it doesn’t have a name. 

-Ash

[autism-asks]

ITAAT to sort of mimic others, especially after hanging out with them for a bit?

Yes. This is often related to echolalia/echomimia/echopraxia or other echophenomena. 

-Sabrina

[autism-asks]

iiaat to mimic book characters' actions and expressions as you read? if a novel describes a character's body position, facial expression, or a very specific movement, I can't imagine it unless I do it myself.

Yes, that can be an autism thing. This would be a combination of echomimia (repeating facial expressions) and echopraxia (repeating body movements) which are forms of echophenomena like echolalia. 

-Sabrina

[autism-asks]

Hi sorry for asking but terms such as echolalia are very new to me and I do not quite understand them. Is there somewhere where they're explained?

We have explanations of a lot of the terms we use on our FAQ page which is where the following information was pulled from:

What are echophenomena?

Echophenomena are a category of patterns that are common among autistic people as well as several other disabilities. These patterns are repetitive in nature and are often repetition of another, though some can be repetitions of the self. Some examples of echophenomena are:

Echolalia: the repetition of words or sounds orally

Echolalioplasia: the repetition of sign language

Echologia: the repetition of words or sounds in thought

Echomimia: the repetition of facial expressions

Echopraxia: the repetition of movements

Echographia: the repetition of words when written or typed

Echoplasia: the repetition of physically or mentally tracing the contours of objects

-Sabrina

[autism-asks]

Iiaat to copy other people's facial expressions when you find them interesting or funny?

Yep! This can be a form of echophenomena known as echomimia.

-Sabrina

[autism-asks]

i've noticed that a lot of the time when i read, i make the facial expressions or body movements that the characters are described as doing, or i'll read the speaking parts out loud. it's almost as if i'm enacting what's being written. itaat? sometimes it happens without me noticing, i once got told off for reading outloud, and i hadn't even noticed i was doing it.

This sounds like a mix of echolalia (reading outloud) and echomimia (acting out what you’re reading the characters doing).

-Sabrina 

[autism-asks]

iiaat to read something and then do it in real life? like in a book it'll say "she purses her lips" and then ill purse my lips? like it's not purposeful i jus tnotice myself doing it.

Yes, this is a form of echomimia which is the mimicking of actions and is an echophenomena like echolalia. 

-Sabrina