[mercedez]

My child is 33 months. He seems for as long as i know repeats everything u say. Even if you ask someting he repeats. My other children didnt do this. He does have ear infections alot and in the process of seeing ent specialist and might need grommets.
He is the my last child out of four children.

Is this normal for a child to be repeating alot? When is it a red flag that he has some disorder? or is it just normal and some kids are just like that?
childcare hasnt mentioned anything or anyone else hasnt said nothing either.

He also copies all the words and movements of his brother, who is 1.6 years older. If he sits or dance, or moves a certain way, or says somthing he copies. Alot of people have noticed that he copies his brother for everthing and they have mentioned it that he is such a copy cat. He just copies all the time.

This post has been edited by mercedez: 30/12/2012, 11:52 PM

[baddmammajamma]

It could possibly be echolalia:

http://teachmetotalk.com/2008/06/01/echola...-what-it-means/

Echolalia is a common red flag for ASD -- though not every child who repeats things will actually have ASD. Still, it's definitely worth raising with your GP.

Click on the link in my signature and see if any of the points resonate with you. As I've often said on EB, it is always better to err on the side of caution when you have concerns about possible red flags or any aspect of your child's development.

If I were in your shoes, I would be probing this further with a qualified professional.

This post has been edited by baddmammajamma: 30/12/2012, 11:25 PM

[mercedez]

Where would i take him to get diagonesed?

[Alacritous~Andy]

For a diagnosis - Go see your GP and request a referral to a developmental paed.

For what it is worth, some kids are just little mimics. It can be perfectly normal. In fact, imitation, and imitative play is a developmental milestone, and a lack of that tendency can be a warning flag, too! So, if that is the ONLY thing you are worried about, please don't panic. (but if it is part of bigger concerns, don't dismiss it). How is that for a foot in each camp?

[mercedez]

For my son to be diagnosed he would have to see the paedritician a few times to get to know him right? Then what happens after diagnosis? who will help him? speech therapy?

[baddmammajamma]

Hi mercedez:

You are in NSW, is that right?

If so, you have a few avenues to seek out an ASD assessment and diagnosis (if the diagnosis is warranted):

* Through a paediatrician (per Andy's advice, your best bet is a good developmental paediatrician -- your GP can refer you -- and depending on the doctor and how the child presents, a child might be seen more than once for the assessment/diagnosis) OR
* Through a child psychiatrist (again, your GP can refer) OR
* Through a multidisciplinary team (a multidisciplinary team must include a psychologist, speech
therapist but may also include an occupational therapist with autism expertise. The
therapists need to conduct a combined assessment and sign the report) OR
* Through NSW's state Autism Association (Autism Spectrum Australia)

At the very, very least, the assessment process involves getting a very detailed medical/developmental history of the child from the parent and having the child take part in a structured series of play & other developmental activities to see how they react to different scenarios.

If your child is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder before turning 6, he would be eligible for $12,000 in early intervention funding ($6000 over two years) called the "Helping Children With Autism" package. There are other things in which he would qualify, but this is the biggest funding package.

Depending on what clinicians uncover (that is, if it's ASD, then your son will having issues that extend beyond echolalia), you can undertake an early intervention program that targets those key needs. Speech therapy for kids with ASD is very common, as is behavioural therapy (including social skills development) and OT. It really varies depending on what the child's needs & strengths are.

[mercedez]

Hi mercedez:

You are in NSW, is that right?

If so, you have a few avenues to seek out an ASD assessment and diagnosis (if the diagnosis is warranted):

* Through a paediatrician (per Andy's advice, your best bet is a good developmental paediatrician -- your GP can refer you -- and depending on the doctor and how the child presents, a child might be seen more than once for the assessment/diagnosis) OR
* Through a child psychiatrist (again, your GP can refer) OR
* Through a multidisciplinary team (a multidisciplinary team must include a psychologist, speech
therapist but may also include an occupational therapist with autism expertise. The
therapists need to conduct a combined assessment and sign the report) OR
* Through NSW's state Autism Association (Autism Spectrum Australia)

At the very, very least, the assessment process involves getting a very detailed medical/developmental history of the child from the parent and having the child take part in a structured series of play & other developmental activities to see how they react to different scenarios.

If your child is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder before turning 6, he would be eligible for $12,000 in early intervention funding ($6000 over two years) called the "Helping Children With Autism" package. There are other things in which he would qualify, but this is the biggest funding package.

Depending on what clinicians uncover (that is, if it's ASD, then your son will having issues that extend beyond echolalia), you can undertake an early intervention program that targets those key needs. Speech therapy for kids with ASD is very common, as is behavioural therapy (including social skills development) and OT. It really varies depending on what the child's needs & strengths are.

Thanks for all the information. One more question, with the funding the goverment gives, does that mean there will be no payment on my half for e.g for occupational therapy or do i still have to pay a gap e.g enhance primary care plan, i have to pay a gap between medicare and the specialiast fees.

[cheekymonkeysmum]

My son has echolalia and repeats most things what we say (a couple of times then moves on to another word or sound though a wk or two later he will come back to that word and say it again for the next couple of days) but mostly other sounds like cars trucks just normal outside noise's and repeats toy noise's.

[mercedez]

It could possibly be echolalia:

http://teachmetotalk.com/2008/06/01/echola...-what-it-means/

Echolalia is a common red flag for ASD -- though not every child who repeats things will actually have ASD. Still, it's definitely worth raising with your GP.

Click on the link in my signature and see if any of the points resonate with you. As I've often said on EB, it is always better to err on the side of caution when you have concerns about possible red flags or any aspect of your child's development.

If I were in your shoes, I would be probing this further with a qualified professional.

I looked at the signs of autism and the only thing that he seems to have is the repeatition part (echolalia). He doesnt have any other signs.