Conversations on echolalia: Seven music therapists discuss their experience with autistic echolalia

Abstract

Little has been written on music therapists’ perspective on autistic-echolalia, its possible meanings in therapy, and its possible musical connotations. In this article we describe the viewpoint of seven music therapists who work with clients on the autism spectrum who echo frequently. Their experience of being receivers of echolalia is divided into four perspectives: as persons, as therapists, as musicians, and as music therapists. The participants were asked to describe their own emotions when their clients echo, and their thoughts on possible reasons for the echoing. Then, they were asked about possible connections they saw between echoing, prosody, and music, and about their interventions when echoing occurs. The interviews were subject to Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The analysis followed the same order, with themes that portray the participants’ emotions; themes that focus on their theoretical formulations on possible reasons for clients’ echoing during music therapy; themes that focus on connections between echoing, prosody and music; and themes that describe interventions in response to clients’ echoing. The discussion presents autistic echolalia as an interpersonal phenomenon, which affects the person who receives it. We believe that providing a stage for participants on the receiving end of the interaction dyad to explain their perspective, can help clinicians better understand this phenomenon in the context of their work, and realize steps to overcome some of the difficulties that it may cause within the therapeutic process. Finally, in light of the Double Empathy Theory, the autistic perspective is represented in the discussion as well.