Many children with autism use scripts and engage in repetitive phrases (echolalia) to communicate. These phrases can give you a glimpse into what they’re feeling, what interests them, or what they need. For example, your child might say a line from a favorite TV show when they’re happy or seeking comfort.
However, just because a child with autism uses delayed echolalia doesn’t mean they’re necessarily a gestalt language processor. The terms “gestalts” and “delayed echolalia” are often used interchangeably, creating circular reasoning: it starts by saying most children with autism use echolalia, so they must be gestalt language processors.
Some might assume that if a child is scripting and has a lot of echolalia phrases, they are a gestalt language processor, but there is no standard assessment to accurately tell whether a child is a gestalt or an analytic language processor.
Autistic children also use delayed echolalia for different reasons (unrelated to language development), including as a repetitive behavior in relaxed settings, where it can provide comfort or help with self-soothing in low-pressure environments, offering a sense of comfort or self-soothing.
Researchers caution that labeling autistic children as gestalt language processors might oversimplify their strengths and unique communication styles.
Note that while gestalt language processing is commonly seen in children with autism, it can also appear in other children who are neurodivergent or have unique ways of communicating. In fact, it’s suggested that both neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals may use gestalt language processing to varying degrees.
For more information, see our full article Gestalt Language Processing (GLP) 101.
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