Survey of bilingualism in autism spectrum disorders

Abstract

This survey study investigates issues related to bilingualism and autism. Bilingualism is common around the world but there is little published information to guide professionals and parents in making decisions about bilingualism for children with autism. Participants were 49 parents or guardians of children with autism who were members of a bilingual family; 75% were raising their child with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) to be bilingual or multilingual. Professionals did not always support this choice. Parents reported that living in a bilingual community and the need to communicate with various people in a variety of venues supported a bilingual choice along with the enrichment and job opportunities that bilingualism afforded. Parents also reported concerns around choosing bilingualism for their children with ASD, such as lack of services and supports and concerns about whether their children would be able to learn two languages. Children with ASD exposed to two languages were often reported to be acquiring their languages of exposure, albeit to varying degrees. Given the small sample size and the exploratory nature of the study, the need for more research is emphasized.