Language development in an autistic child often resembles which of the following?

Language development in an autistic child often resembles echolalia, which is the repetition of phrases or sentences that the child has heard previously. This can occur with immediate repetition right after hearing the phrase, or it can be delayed where the child might repeat phrases from earlier conversations, television shows, or movies at a later date. Echolalia can serve different purposes, such as communication, self-regulation, or even just as a way to process information. This phenomenon is commonly observed in children on the autism spectrum as they may use it as a means to express their needs or to engage in social interaction, even though it may not always reflect their understanding of language in a typical communicative way.

In contrast, the other options like stuttering, scanning speech, and pressured speech denote specific speech disorders or patterns that are generally not characteristic of language development in autistic children. Stuttering involves interruptions in the flow of speech; scanning speech refers to a manner of speaking that might be halting and mimics a struggle to find words; and pressured speech is often associated with manic states in mood disorders, where the speaker talks rapidly and with an increased sense of urgency. None of these patterns align with the typical language development observed in children with autism, making echol