The Four Lords and the implications (spoilers)

[Eloah]

but as far as we know people are chosen to be gifted the Echo deliberately - often as adults.

Isn't that incorrect though. We know for sure Ysayle was a child when she had the echo, as the vision she had while lost in the snow was what spurred her to become Iceheart; my giess is 8 or 9, old enough to understand the vision, young enough to misinterpret it. And based on his accounts Arenvald was a child when he got his. He's nineteen, one could argue he is still a child, but if we go back 5-7 years that makes him 12-14. I believe he indicated he used what little the echo gave him to help him survive. By his account though weak, he seems to have a bit of foresight, similar to what Fordola has.

Also that begs the question, what is our unique Echo manifestation?

So i just realized you said often... T.T