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16 %u00a9 Elklan Training Limited 2025Elklan Supporting Gestalt Language Processing %u2013 a Total Communication Approach3.0 THE IMPORTANCE OF ECHOLALIA3.1 IMMEDIATE ECHOLALIAImmediate echolalia is the direct repetition of what has just been heard or said.This could be to:%u2022 feedback and confirm what they have heard%u2022 provide further support to process and understand what has been said%u2022 engage in a communication exchange%u2022 use new wordsResearchers have had different views regarding the purpose of immediate echolalia. Prizant (1981) concluded %u2018It may be fruitful to view immediate echolalia from a functional perspective and to attempt to discover patterns of usage for individual children%u2019.Once a child or young person is using lots of immediate echolalia the adult can extend the communication, so the verbal exchange maintains a conversation-like structure.For example:Child S and their parent are now waiting under a shelter outside the park caf%u00e9.%u2022 Adult says %u2018Be careful don%u2019t drop the cup%u2019%u2022 Child says %u2018Be careful don%u2019t drop the cup%u2019%u2022 Adult responds to the child by naturally extending the communication exchange An example of immediate echolalia: Child S and their parent are in a park caf%u00e9 for the first time. The caf%u00e9 has a ball pool play area.When the adult asks, %u2018Do you want a drink?%u2019 and S responds by saying %u2018Do you want to drink?%u2019 S may say this back for a variety of reasons including:%u2022 For confirmation as in, %u2018Did you say do you want a drink?%u2019 Alternatively, %u2022 To hear the sentence for a second time, to give them additional processing time, indicating they may not have understood the question.%u2022 To give a verbal response when they do not know what to say. Or, %u2022 To support the development and understanding of the word %u2018drink%u2019. The communication partner (in this case the parent) needs to try and work out the purpose of the repeated response.Do you want a drink?Do you want a drink?