22517
Family Experiences in Bilingual Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Objectives: We investigated the relationship between language environments and the impact of family dynamics on language choices based on the advice given by health and educational professionals in diagnosed bilingual children with ASD.
Methods: Preschool aged children with ASD (N=13) averaging from 24-60 months from bilingual families were selected for this study. The study included a standardized observational testing for social interaction, communication and autism severity (ADOS), nonverbal (visual) reasoning (Mullen Scales of Early Learning) and expressive and receptive language (Preschool Language Scale IV). Measures were repeated at three time points in English. Parents answered 25-questions for the Family Experience Bilingual Questionnaire regarding their child’s ASD diagnosis, language choices and ability in both languages, and advise regarding bilingualism four years after their initial entry to the study.
Results: Bilingual parents with children with ASD expressed three common concerns: language and social development and behavioral issues. Their children had different levels of exposure in both languages, beginning their first year of 71% English and 28% non-English and current exposure as 78% English vs. 20% non-English. Parents reported anxiety over their language choices, leading to consultation with professionals and peers. This consultation process was often uninformative: 66% of parents received no recommendation, while 17% of the families were encouraged, and 17% discouraged about bilingualism. Overall, parents who raised their child bilingually reported positive experiences, while parents who raised their child monolingually reported negative experiences specifically, family relationships and dynamics.
Conclusions: While evidence suggests that bilingual children with ASD have similar language development in comparison to monolingual children with ASD, parents reported a lack of advice from professionals on language choices. Specifically parents that raised their child bilingually reported more positive experiences than their monolingual counterparts because of the maintenance of communication and cultural exchange with extended family members. Supporting families in maintaining more than one language, even if English is the dominant language, is critical in supporting social skills and family relationships.