A team of scientists led by clinical psychologist Kelia Romero studied 112 children aged 7 to 12. They included both children with autism and children without developmental disabilities. The study showed that children who speak two languages have better self-control and are able to switch between tasks more easily. These skills are important for both learning and success in adulthood.
“We found that bilingualism was associated with improved executive functioning, which in turn improved autism symptoms,” explains study co-author Lynn Perry. The finding supports a hypothesis that has been discussed in the scientific literature before, but lacks strong evidence.
Children with autism often struggle with social communication and impaired executive functions. These are cognitive skills that allow them to plan, focus, remember instructions, and manage multiple tasks effectively. They usually develop throughout life, and even if a child does not master them right away, they can catch up later. Autistic children have a harder time with them than their neurotypical peers, but research shows that bilingual children with ASD have an easier time with these problems.
Interestingly, the benefits of bilingualism were not limited to children with autism. Scientists have found that bilingual children, even those without neurological disorders, show improved ability to perceive other people's points of view.
They understand the thoughts and intentions of others more easily, which is also important for their social development. “We noticed that bilingual children have a more developed ability to perceive other people’s views,” said Kelia Romero.
In neuroscience, this is explained by the phenomenon of co-activation. The two languages in the brain are constantly active and compete with each other, which requires a person to have increased control and the ability to switch. This phenomenon is known as the “bilingual advantage,” which stimulates the development of executive functions. According to neuroscientist Lucina Uddin, knowing two languages develops the ability to suppress one language in order to use the other, and this strengthens self-control skills.
Kelia Romero began researching the impact of bilingualism on children with autism when she noticed that some families were reluctant to teach their children a second language, believing it to be harmful. However, research has shown that there is no reason to limit the language environment, even if the child has a neurological disorder. “I want to convey to families that learning a second language will not harm their children,” Romero emphasizes.
In addition, research shows that bilingualism has a positive impact on typical children as well.
"This is good news for us because it reinforces our recommendations not to limit the language development of children in multilingual families," said Michael Alessandri, executive director of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders at the University of Miami.
The research is ongoing. Romero and Perry are studying the impact of bilingualism on children's interactions with peers in preschool, and Uddin is analyzing how knowledge of a second language affects the cognitive development of children with autism.