I look after a girl who repeats everything my daughter says. They are the same age. Its been going on for a few months. It has reached the point that she repeats after every few words, kind of like when you hear feedback over the telephone. I think she's going to be synchronized with what my girl says really soon. I think it especially happens when addressing an adult. They do have converstations between themselves but often even the imaginitave play is mimiced. Its bizarre. Has anyone every seen a kid do this? I'm trying to encourage them to be individuals. The girl is very shy so could that have something to do with it? Any ideas? Should I just keep ignoring it? Will it have any adverse effects on my daughter?
Wow. Now that I did a little reading, I realize she's has some other characteristics associated with autism. She covers her ears to the vacuum & hand dryers, keeps her little fist clenched even when she tries to pick something up, sometimes seems in her own world. I don't know what the implications of that would be & I'm certainly no expert. (She doesn't line things up but my daughter used to do that. She drew circles in a row around ALL of the walls in the house. She used to also line up things in the floor from the front to the back of the house. It was pretty impressive, she was 2 when she did that.) So back on the topic I'm not sure what to do. The little girl is very sweet and clever. I asked her mom once about the fist clenching and she said that it had been happening for a year. I've met her aunt who had some concerns about how when you ask her a question she doesn't answer, she just looks at you. Should I say anything. It could be nothing.
There is a condition called Echolalia that is the repetition of vocalizations of another person. I'm guessing it can stand alone or be connected with other disorders but I'm familiar with it through autism.
Google it and see if that's what it sounds like or if the girl seems to be able to control it and is just having fun.
K.
"The most obvious form of flattery is imitation."
My oldest son used to do this many yrs. ago. He is a yr. younger than the neighbor boy. He is also very, very shy. When my son was 5 and "Bobby" was 6, they would play together. My son would often imitate Bobby's jokes, what he said, how he laughed, what he wanted for lunch. It may not have been everything, but it was close. It was annoying to Bobby, his parents, and me. My son was happy acting like and sounding like Bobby. He thought Bobby was the coolest. I talked to the pediatrician about it. We had recently moved across the country, my husband started traveling a lot, Bobby was his closest friend and his idol.
He felt secure and like he "belonged" when he imitated Bobby. It was a long, careful process, but thru some talking and role play, we got it to stop. Be patient. This girl looks up to your daughter a lot and hasn't found her sense of "self" yet.
wow! I just saw your next post on this subject, and I can totally understand that as well. I was a nanny for a young man that had a form of autism as well. he was also very sensitive to sound and would do very strange things. he liked to run in circles a lot, he was very very intelligent! they had to take him out of a gymnastic class because things were loud and echoing in the gym and it hurt his ears. and many many times we spoke to him and he would act like he didn't hear us as though he was in his own lil world. he had a lot of imaginary friends too! she needs to be tested for autism as soon as possible because it needs to be addressed. the family i was a nanny for ignored it because they didn't want him to get kicked out of very prestigious school and it was so unfortunate for him because he was disciplined improperly. they treated him like a regular child that was acting out in class. so sad!
How old is this girl? Repeating is one way that children improve their speaking abilities, so if she is young (4 or younger) I wouldn't worry about it ... it will probably stop on its own.
I know its hard but you need to take all your concerns to the mom. Tell her you were researching ways to deter her from some of the things she did and you started noticing a trend.
Sometime the sitters see thing we as parents dont. One of my really good friends has a son with Autism and until the babysitter said something my friend didnt catch it, she just thought her son was different.
My friend didnt get mad at the sitter as she knew the sitter just cared and only wanted the best for the child.
The sooner this type of thing is caught and the sooner therapy can begin, the better the life the child can have.
I would say something very delicately just due to the fact that early intervention is so effective. Some stemming and repetitive behaviors are harder to redirect/train the longer the child does them so the earlier the better!!
I had a friend, as a kid, that repeated everything that SHE said. It was a form of Tourette's Syndrome. (It's not always cursing.) She would say a sentence or two and then repeat it in almost a whisper.
Maybe this girl has a different form of it.
My 7yr old is autistic and echolalic - as other mentioned this is something to consider.
I wouldn't mention autism specifically, but that you've noticed that she seems to have some behaviors that you're beginning to see patterns of. It'll be up to the mother whether she chooses to follow up or not will be her choice. Good luck.
It sounds like Autism to me. My youngest son was diagnosed of autism 3 months shy of turning 3. He recently turned 5 and that is one of the signs among other things. He still repeats and memorizes things. I would look out for different signs as well.
no eye contact
hand flapping
repetitive behavior
no or limited affection such as hugs and kisses
covering ears
montone or sign sign voices
playing alone
not initiating conversations
for other signs I would recommend googling.
Good Luck and I hope this helps as early diagnoses is the key for treatment.
M.
You don't say how old the girls are, but repeating others is acommon trait of autism, but it also could just be an annoying habit. Have you tried to stop her from doing it, or discussed it with her mom? I'm surprised your daughter has asked her to stop!
My son was dx'ed with Autism 4 years ago and this Echolalia is still very prevalent as well as the blank stare when being addressed directly. If she is over the age of 3 her parents can contact the school district to have her evaluated for special services in their district. They will be able to guide her and get her the help and services she needs to overcome some of these things while she is still young.
You didn't say the girl's age, but it does sound like autism to me. Also, a child who is autistic doesn't usually present with every aspect of the condition. The fact that she isn't lining up toys doesn't mean she isn't autistic.
You're in a very delicate situation regarding the parents. I do think you should bring it to their attention. Make it clear up front that you're certainly no expert, but you notice that she repeats everything, and you haven't seen that behavior before with other children. You might then want to encourage the parents to call the pediatrician's office to see what they think. Hopefully, the pediatrician's office will refer them to a developmental pediatrician to assess the girl.
Good luck!
C.
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