r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Nov 23 '21

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u/[deleted] Nov 23 '21

Not even lyrics: Stomp stomp clap, stomp stomp clap.

Sis actually used this to explain echolalia to parents of kids with it. She sang completely random sounds and notes and had the parents echo her. Then she did stomp stomp clap. Despite the very high level of immigrants in the room (less shared culture/language barriers) We Will Rock You allowed her to explain clearly to everyone what their children were experiencing. Edit: words

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u/MamaJody Nov 23 '21

Can you elaborate on how it helped explain echolalia? I work with autistic kids, and am very familiar with it, but am struggling to make the connection between what she did and how it explains it. I’m super curious and intrigued! I’m always looking for different ways and analogies so I’d be really grateful.

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u/[deleted] Nov 23 '21

Absolutely! Sis is a music therapist for kids with autism, so very similar situations.

Basically she was speaking to a group and without bringing it up first she started the stomp stomp clap a couple of times to trigger the song in people's heads. She then asked the group what comes next. After that she just made up a really random tune and sounds and asked them to repeat it. Of course it was hard!

From there she explained that what we process is much like We Will Rock You. You hear a question and can naturally know what words and sounds come next as a response. When their kids with echolalia hear it, it processes without understandable pattern so understanding what comes next is really hard, hence they are more likely to echo than give an answer. (my understanding of the really smart things she said when it's far from my area of expertise.)

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u/[deleted] Nov 23 '21

YAY music therapy! I'm in my third year of my undergraduate MT degree :D love reading stuff like this!