Is this normal? Is there a name for it?

[Kale Erickson]

So, for as long as I can remember, I've always repeated everything said. All words that I can hear are repeated silently in my mind. I repeat words once, just after they are said, and this seems to be something I have no control over, I never think of doing this. I just notice this a lot. I guess this is like silent echolalia, if I am correct in my understanding of echolalia. Or is this considered echolalia? Does this happen to anyone else? I am also wondering if this could be related to my (professional) diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome. Thanks.

 

[Judge]

Well, echolalia is clearly a documented comorbid condition of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Though like all comorbid conditions, not everyone with ASD has it.

https://www.cigna.com/assets/docs/b...ismSpectrumDisordersAndComorbidConditions.pdf

 

[Streetwise]

Welcome

So, for as long as I can remember, I've always repeated everything said. All words that I can hear are repeated silently in my mind. I repeat words once, just after they are said, and this seems to be something I have no control over, I never think of doing this. I just notice this a lot. I guess this is like silent echolalia, if I am correct in my understanding of echolalia. Or is this considered echolalia? Does this happen to anyone else? I am also wondering if this could be related to my (professional) diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome. Thanks.

 

[isthisreallife]

I repeat things in my head too. Mostly when I'm overloaded and I lose the ability to comprehend spoken words. I have to run the words through my head again to understand what was said. I don't know if it's the same as you're experiencing. Sometimes I'll repeat the words out loud too.

 

[pjcnet]

I often repeat things both in my head and out loud in conversation, often without realising it until someone tells me, but even if I become conscious that I'm about to repeat myself there's this an irresistible urge to do it anyway. I have managed to sometimes stop myself repeating out loud by telling myself that there is no reason to say it again as the person has definitely heard and taken in what I have already said, sometimes I will have already repeated a couple of times before I even get to this realisation however. It never stops myself sometimes repeating in my head though and I'm not aware of any good workaround for that, except to perhaps try to think of something different if it keeps repeating which can be easier said than done. It is commonly related to being on the autistic spectrum, although not everyone has this trait.

PS: I see you're a new member, so welcome to ASPIESCentral.