4 1/2 year old son with HFA possible echolalia?

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Hi everyone,
My 4 1/2 year old son has HFA. He is very smart, well spoken and is just coming around to talk to others in social situations like school. Recently he's been copying phrases I say or things I ask him. He'll only do this at home once or twice a day. This only started about 2 weeks ago. I can't tell if it's possibly echolalia or he's doing it to annoy me. He's done it my husband a few times. I've asked him to stop and told him it was bothering me and he does stop at times but other times he will repeat again. Has anybody else experienced their child go through something similar? Where they are well spoken and echolalia just popped up out of the blue? Thanks!

Yes, it's entirely possible that your son is developing echolalia (as the disorder is 75% prevalent amongst autism sufferers as a whole), but there's no need to fear, as incurring the disorder can actually serve a communicative function for the patient. I'd still recommend you visit his psychiatrist in order to figure out the best course of action, though.

Thanks, I will definitely bring it up at our next appointment. I just wasn't sure if it could come on so late since he already has a well developed vocabulary.

Another thought is it could be a tic. Tic disorders are more common in autistic kids, and sometimes can cause echolalia.

I wouldnt' worry about it, since he speaks well already.
I still have echolalia, and it doesn't affect me in any bad way as an adult who speaks fine.