title: Examining the Echolalia Literature: Where Do Speech-Language Pathologists Stand?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Echolalia is a common element in the communication of individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Recent contributions to the literature reflect significant disagreement regarding how echolalia should be defined, understood, and managed. The purpose of this review article is to give speech-language pathologists and others a comprehensive view of the available perspectives on echolalia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Published literature from the disciplines of behavioral intervention, linguistics, and speech-language intervention is discussed. Special areas of focus include operational definitions, rationales associated with various approaches, specific procedures used to treat or study echolalic behavior, and reported conclusions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dissimilarities in the definition and understanding of echolalia have led to vastly different approaches to management. Evidence-based practice protocols are available to guide speech-language interventionists in their work with individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
authors.forename: Lillian N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Stiegler
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002648:Child; D004454:Echolalia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D006801:Humans; D008037:Linguistics; D013066:Speech-Language Pathology