Milk Intake and Echolalia: Parental Perspectives on Dietary Factors and Language Development in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Abstract
This study examined the relationship between milk intake and echolalia in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), focusing on parental perspectives regarding dietary factors and language development. A quasi-experimental design was employed involving 30 children with ASD, divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental group followed a casein-free diet, while the control group maintained regular milk consumption. Results indicated that parents in the experimental group reported a reduction in repetitive echolalic speech and an increase in functional language use compared to the control group. However, findings also revealed variability, with some parents perceiving echolalia as a meaningful communicative tool rather than a deficit. The study suggests that dietary interventions may influence language behaviors in ASD, but parental perspectives highlight the importance of balancing biomedical approaches with identity-affirming views of echolalia.