A groundbreaking study from the University of Miami College of Arts and Sciences suggests that encouraging bilingualism in children can have significant benefits. This includes children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Bilingualism can significantly enhance executive functioning skills. These cognitive abilities—critical for daily life—are essential for tasks like planning, focus, and managing multiple activities.
The research underscores how multilingualism may offer cognitive benefits, especially for children on the autism spectrum through bilingualism.
BILINGUALISM’S IMPACT
The study was led by Celia Romero, a clinical psychology graduate student. She collaborated with professors Lynn Perry, Michael Alessandri, and Lucina Uddin. They investigated the role of bilingualism in 112 children aged 7 to 12. The cohort included both typically developing children and those with autism. The results revealed that multilingual children exhibited stronger executive functioning skills. These skills allow them to control impulses. They also switch between tasks with greater ease than their monolingual peers, highlighting the importance of bilingualism.
“We discovered that multilingualism improves executive function,” Perry said. This improvement is associated with better autism symptoms. This finding, earlier hinted at in literature, was exciting to see confirmed in this comprehensive study focused on bilingualism.
THE LINK BETWEEN MULTILINGUALISM AND AUTISM SYMPTOMS
Children with autism often face challenges with executive functioning, a critical aspect of mental processing. These challenges can impact their ability to plan, focus, and adapt to changing tasks. The study’s findings are particularly significant because they demonstrate that multilingualism may help mitigate these difficulties, ultimately leading to enhanced social communication and cognitive flexibility associated with bilingualism.
While previous research highlighted the executive function struggles in children with autism, this study also revealed positive changes in core autism symptoms, such as perspective-taking and social communication skills. Romero noted that multilingual children showed improved abilities to understand others’ thoughts and viewpoints—an essential skill for social interaction, suggesting the benefits of bilingualism.
UNDERSTANDING THE ‘BILINGUAL ADVANTAGE’
A key concept that helps explain these findings is “joint activation” from neuroscience. The bilingual brain is constantly engaged in managing two active languages, often leading to enhanced executive control. This process, known as the “bilingual advantage,” requires constant switching between languages and inhibiting one language while using the other. These demands appear to strengthen cognitive control, boosting executive functioning in both typically developing children and those with autism, underscoring the role of bilingualism.
“If you have to juggle two languages, you have to suppress one in order to use the other. That inhibition—or the ability to stop yourself from doing something—might be bolstered by knowing two languages,” Uddin explained. This cognitive exercise helps children better manage tasks and regulate their behavior, supporting the concept of bilingualism.
CHANGING THE CONVERSATION FOR MULTILINGUAL FAMILIES
Romero’s interest in this research arose while working in Uddin’s neuroscience lab. She observed that some bilingual families hesitated to speak to their children in multiple languages. They feared it might overwhelm them. They also worried it could be detrimental to their development. This prompted her to delve deeper into the topic of bilingualism and provide evidence-based guidance for these families.
“I started investigating this to reassure families. There’s no detriment for their child to learn another language, supporting the idea of bilingualism. This is true whether or not they have a neurodevelopmental disorder,” Romero said. Her study aims to reassure parents that raising bilingual children—whether they have autism or not—offers cognitive benefits and is not harmful.
SUPPORT FROM AUTISM EXPERTS
As the executive director of the University’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, Alessandri noted that parents often inquire about whether multilingualism could negatively affect their child with autism. The research findings offer a welcomed reassurance about the benefits of bilingualism.
“It is wonderful to have sound research supporting our general recommendation. We advise not to restrict language exposures to children in multilingual homes,” Alessandri said. The study provides concrete evidence regarding bilingualism that can ease the concerns of families living with children on the autism spectrum.
ONGOING RESEARCH ON PEER INTERACTIONS AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
Romero and Perry are currently expanding their research to include preschool-aged children. They aim to investigate whether bilingualism also positively influences peer interactions. Peer relationships are vital for children’s social and cognitive development, and this additional research could shed light on how bilingualism impacts these early interactions.
At UCLA, Uddin is conducting a large follow-up study to further explore how multilingualism affects brain and cognitive development in children with autism. The results from both studies could shape future recommendations for promoting bilingualism as a tool for improving cognitive and social outcomes in children on the spectrum.
This study marks a pivotal moment in understanding the cognitive advantages of bilingualism for children with autism. By challenging common misconceptions about language acquisition, researchers hope to encourage multilingual environments that empower children to enhance their executive functioning, social skills, and overall development through bilingualism.