At 4, my son started repeating everything he says, but in a whisper. Like out loud he would say, "Can I have a snack?" then in a whisper he would ask the same exact question. He doesn't do this for everything he says, but he does it pretty often during the day. He is 5 now and still does it... it hasn't gotten any worse but it's still there. He is a very smart child... knows a lot of kindergarten related stuff, can read Level 1 books, does not have a speech problem... He just has this quirky thing he does.
Does anyone know anything about it? Will he eventually stop it? I have mentioned to him that he does it and he says he doesn't. So he doesn't even realize he'd doing it.
PS Someone asked me if we watch a TV show called The Middle. We do not watch TV, had our cable cut off long ago so our kids would get outdoors more and exercise their bodies. We do have a TV for movie watching, which is only maybe once a week.
When I was a kid, I did the very same thing. I did it because I was thinking about the words, how to spell them, how they sounded, etc. I wouldn't worry!
I don't normally watch that show but I have seen an episode or two and the first time I saw it I thought, omg, that's my son! When he was 2 and 1/2 he started doing that...just repeating things to himself in a whisper. I didn't really worry too much about it (although I know he is ocd and I've wondered at times about him being autistic). He only did it for about a year. He's 4 now and hasn't done it in a long time. On a different note, though still related, it's funny that I just started thinking about this, but it's the quirky things people do that either endear them to us or drive us insane. lol
Please let me know if you find out anything! My daughter is 13 and STILL does it. At first I guess we dismissed it as her being young and cute, now it's outright annoying! She doesn't whisper it anymore, she just mouths it. Good luck!
Um, I do it. I don't realize it half the time. I repeat what others say as well. It's a form of echolalia which is a form of stimming, or perseveration. Yes, these are words typically used for Autism Spectrum Disorders HOWEVER typical people stim as well. Have you ever tapped a pencil? Had your leg shake? Tapped your fingernails on a desk? Twirled your hair? Whispered while you read? Those are all forms of stimming.
Echolalia can be very mild, and it's harmless. It does serve a purpose for those that engage in it. If he's typical in all other areas of development then I honestly wouldn't worry about it.
idk, i'm not trying to startle you but that almost sounds like a "tick" which can be neurological...i say that because you said that you have asked him & he says he doesnt realize he is doing it...however with that being said my daughter used to repeat everything that she said twice, when she was 3-4ish, she did it in the same voice though & she knew she was doing it, she eventually outgrew it...
i only say that about being neurological because my son has a brain injury & i have read a lot of papers & such doing research about his condition & have also read about "ticks" & that just made me think of that...like i said probably nothing to worry about but you might consult a dr just to see what they have to say
best of luck!
I am not sure, but I think it's one of the signs of Autism, so is being very smart & not being aware of repeating it. Check it out, I don't know for sure. Seems like if it is Autism he is case would be slight.
My daughter did this sometimes when she was younger; she'd ask me a question, then say it again quietly as if to herself. I always thought it was a little strange, but I never said anything to her about it and she doesn't do it anymore. To me it seemed as if she was reminding herself of the question she asked or wanted to make sure she said the right words or something....a little like what we would say in our heads (our "internal monologue") but she actually said it out loud more quietly. She didn't do it very often, but I remember her doing it when she was about kindergarten age. She's 8 now and she's completely fine developmentally--no problems whatsoever. And she doesn't do it anymore.
If you are concerned, I think it's always a good idea to ask the pediatrician, but to me it seems like just one of those quirky things that some kids do. Especially since he seems like he's fine in every other way. :-)
Maybe he's just being a perfectly normal weird little kid.
Kids do strange things and it doesn't always mean anything bad.
I work in an office full of grown and very intelligent women who openly talk to themselves while they're working something out or making sure they've got this and that carried out.
Quirks are good. If your son is really intelligent, he'll likely have lots of them.
He could be experimenting with his out loud voice and his whisper voice.
I've mentioned this before, but I was tested on the recommendation of one of my teachers. Turns out I was highly intelligent.
Go figure.
I was still a little kid and thought that walking around with my eyes half shut would make people think I was Chinese.
Completely illogical, but I vividly remember it making sense to me at the time.
My mom could have had me evaluated or rushed me to a neurologist, but they would have found nothing wrong but a funky little imagination.
I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and my favorite place was China Town. Every time anyone flew in from across the country, we always took them there.
My vietnamese aunt laughs her head off over me thinking that my blonde hair would never give me away.
I just personally don't think anyone should rush to assume quirks are a bad thing.
It doesn't always have to be a sign of anything but being a kid.
Just my opinion.
that is one funny show. Bahahaha. and yes kid does that just like you described. The kid on the show is supposed to be super smart so I wouldnt worry.
also not trying to scare you, it could be a slight case of ocd. it's not a big deal. more ppl are ocd than you would think
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also not trying to scare you, it could be a slight case of ocd. it's not a big deal. more ppl are ocd than you would think
I have heard repeating of words can be related to Autism...I watched a documentary on it... just a suggestion...
Ok, this will sound unusual, but has your child ever watched an episode of The Middle? It comes on ABC and the youngest child on the show does the same thing in repeating words in a whisper while looking at his chest. Is it possible your son picked this up from that and it is just a habit to him now? My 4 year old will constantly clear his throat and he does it so much now that if you point it out to him, he doesn't even remember doing it. Just a thought.
my son does the same thing, it's not every time but i feel like he is trying to get a feel for the words on his tongue. sometimes it's when he's trying out a new phrase. he also does have a slight stutter/hesitancy about his speech sometimes, when he gets excited, and i think it has to do with him just practicing. i don't think it's a big deal. my mother thinks it's hilarious - she DOES watch "the middle" (we don't, either...)
