Echolalia

Echolalia is the repetition of other's words.

The word comes from the Greek words  echo  meaning 'to repeat' and  laleo  meaning 'babbling' or 'meaningless talk'.

Tourette's syndrome
In Tourette's syndrome it is involuntary and is considered to be a complex vocal tic.

Autism
Echolalia is common in autism. This may be because it helps the autistic person to understand what has been said.

Other conditions
Echolalia can be found in other conditions including schizophrenia and aphasia.

Immediate echolalia
Repetitions are spoken immediately after the original speech.

Delayed echolalia
Not as likely to occur as a tic, but possible if the words have been stuck in the person's head for a while.

Delayed echolalia is common in the autistic spectrum and repeating TV programmes word-for-word some time after they are watched is common.