Echolalia, Aspergers, learning disability or just a unique style of learning?

Question

If a child immediately repeats everything that is said to her before responding, is this normal up until a certain age? If a child has done so WITH OUT FAIL from the moment they learnt to speak until age six, is this normal? If she were in her teens and was now being evaluated for a learning disability involving written expression and language processing, would this behavior be worth mentioning? Could this be a sign of something more?

This is the case for my younger cousin. I had mentioned to her that I would be studying special ed. at university next year, and she and my aunt started telling me everything she struggles with. Apparently she struggles to copy notes, spelling, put her thoughts on paper, sequencing, organizing, applying what she has learned in theory to actually doing the task, and requires a lot of repition and support to learn things. She is a whole picture learner.

Answer 1

It sounds like the behaviors would fall under the autistic label.  Any behavior that the parent feels isn't "normal" should be brought up at iep meetings or "team meetings".  

My son repeats a lot of things that are said to him, and to understand reading selections he must read them out loud.  He processes information better when he hears it several times. (that is his learning technique)

The speech path. will probably do testing in receptive and expressive language, to help determine if it is a processing issue.

The modifications you discussed are typically needed for most children recieving special services.  It sounds like the team has worked together to discover what the child needs, the next step is to determine how these needs are going to be met.  The label really isn't important at this point except to determine if they qualify for special education, so don't get too hung up on, what "she has".  

Teachers should remember to teach the child, not the diagnosis.  

Remind the parent to know their rights.  IF they feel the school is not making the appropriate modifications, they can call another team meeting.

Answer 2

Billy thinks everyone has a learning disability.  Just have to learn what way works for you.  Nobody is master of all subjects and supreme learner of the universe.

And yes, even Silly Billy knows this.

Answer 3

Hi there- I know figuring out how one learns best is always a puzzle.  All the things you named are different ways of learning and reacting to the world.  It's just sometimes they are so different, they need a very different method of teacher from most other students.  That's what special education is all about.  Yes, Silly Billy, everyone does have strengths and weaknesses, but they don't always impact us so greatly that we have need for a specialized curriculum.  Special ed only accounts for 10% of the school-aged population, and that includes gifted kids!

From the WIAT scores you present, reading and math skills are good- although I'm assuming those are broad scores, meaning it includes basic reading and reading comprehension, as well as basic math calculation and math reasoning.  If they only did basic reading and math calculations, tell your aunt to have them do the higher level skills, as well as reading fluency.  Spelling is obviously low, and written expression is a weakness (spelling isn't always needed on this task).  The WIAT also includes measures of oral expression and listening comprehension that might give a bit more info as to her underlying processing, unless they are using another measure.   Sometimes kids with language issues will repeat what is said as a way to be sure they've encoded properly, and it also buys them time to respond.  Still, a full speech/language eval would be good, and probably best done by a licensed speech therapist, rather than a psychologist.  Psychs cover the basics, but not as indepth as a true SLP.

The IQ will give more information, but I hope a complete language eval will also be done, as I suspect that's really the problem, although she could have a graphomotor issue (are they doing a Developmental Visual Motor Integration test (DVMI)?  That may help to rule that out, but again, the IQ test will give some info about this area as well.   A referral to an Occupational Therapist may be helpful.  

As for Aspergers, that involves problems with communication, socialization, and adapting.  ADHD may also be a question.  She could have one or the other, or both.  There may also be a sensory integration issue (thats why it helps to have a team of professionals working on cases- our minds are really complicated!)  Hopefully they'll have her parents rate her behavior with something like the GARS or the CARS, or even a BASC ratings scale for starters.

I know what you mean about people spilling the beans once they find out you're interested in Special Ed!  My relatives started sending me psych reports and everything.  I'd take them to my profs for recommendations, and also to learn.  

Good luck to you and your family.