“She Can Sing ‘Twinkle Twinkle.’ Recite Alphabets. Echo My Phone Ringtone.

But When She’s Thirsty — She Cries.”

Sahana was 3. She filled the house with sound.

She:

Sang entire rhymes from memory
Repeated cartoon dialogues
Imitated YouTube intros word for word

But when she was hungry — no words.
When she was upset — silence or screaming.
When asked, “What do you want?” — she repeated, “What do you want?”

🧠 When Speech Is a Script — Not a Tool

At Pinnacle® Hyderabad (South), therapists explain:

“Echolalia can hide a serious communication delay.
Children sound verbal, but they’re not using language to express — they’re just repeating patterns.”

Echolalia may look like:

Singing, but not requesting
Copying, but not answering
Reciting, but not initiating
Talking in ads, rhymes, or show lines
Repeating questions instead of replying

“It’s not a language problem. It’s a language purpose problem.”

📞 The Day It Wasn’t Cute Anymore

Sahana had a fever. She was crying.

Her parents asked again and again — “Are you cold? Are you thirsty?”
She kept repeating: “Are you cold?”

“That’s when it broke us.
We realized — she couldn’t tell us. And we hadn’t noticed.”

They called 9100 181 181, unsure if they were late.

They were booked for a free AbilityScore©® screening the next morning.

📊 What Her AbilityScore©® Showed

Rhythmic Verbal Memory: 🟢 Green (900/1000)
Expressive Language (Functional): 🔴 Red
Echolalia Use: 🔴 Red
Question Response: 🔴 Red
Gesture Support: 🟡 Yellow

Sahana wasn’t nonverbal.
But she was non-functional in speech.

🤖 Therapy Didn’t Remove Her Songs — It Gave Them Purpose

With a TherapeuticAI©® speech plan, her therapy included:

“Sing and stop” cue games
Matching songs to real-world meaning (e.g., “water” = ask for it)
Visual sentence strips with prompts
“Show me / Tell me” language bridges
Parent scripting replacements for echolalia phrases

By week 4:

She pointed to her cup and said “Water”
Said “I want biscuit” before crying
Used “No Amma” in real-time instead of humming a jingle

“She still sings. But now, she speaks with us. Not just near us.”

💬 What Her Parents Now Share

“Speech isn’t the goal.
Connection is.
Don’t mistake sound for language.
And don’t wait to find out if your child is really talking to you.”

🌍 This Autism Awareness Month — Watch the Songs Closely

If your child: ✅ Recites perfectly, but avoids questions
✅ Repeats phrases without context
✅ Speaks mostly through TV or music
✅ Echoes questions instead of answering

…it may be echolalia. And it’s a sign. Not a sentence.

📞 Book Your Child’s Communication Screening in Hyderabad (South)

📞 Call the Pinnacle® National Autism Helpline: 9100 181 181
🌐 www.Pinnacleblooms.org 📍 LB Nagar | Dilsukhnagar | Saidabad | Santosh Nagar

✅ Free AbilityScore©® Communication Zone Report
✅ Weekly Progress via TherapeuticAI©®
✅ Telugu + English Therapist Support
✅ Parent Tools for Functional Language Building

⚠️ Disclaimer

This article is for informational and awareness purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For expert guidance tailored to your child’s needs, please consult a qualified healthcare provider or contact the Pinnacle® National Autism Helpline at 9100 181 181*.*

She Sings All Day. But Has Never Said ‘I’m Hungry.

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Tulsi

Tulsi