echolalia /ek′ōlā″lyə/ [Gk, echo + lalein, to babble] , 1. (in psychiatry) the automatic and meaningless repetition of another’s words or phrases, especially as seen in schizophrenia. Kinds include delayed echolalia. 2. (in pediatrics) a baby’s imitation or repetition of sounds or words produced by others. It occurs normally in early childhood development. Also called echophrasia, echo speech. −echolalic, adj.
