Social Differences Between Monolingual English and Bilingual English-Spanish Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders. 2019

Maria Valicenti-McDermott, and Rosa Seijo, and Lisa Shulman
Children's Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center, R. F. Kennedy Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, and Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York. Electronic address: rvalicenti@hotmail.com.

Bilingualism is increasingly prevalent; however, research in bilingual children with autism is sparse. The purpose of this study was to compare social skills and autistic features in monolingual English and bilingual English-Spanish children with autism spectrum disorder. We conducted a review of the multidisciplinary evaluations done in all children aged one to six years diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in an inner city, university-affiliated clinic from 2003 to 2013. Collected information included demographics, developmental testing, and autistic characteristics. We identified 462 children; 165 were bilingual English-Spanish and 297 were monolingual English. Parents of bilingual children reported stereotyped or repetitive use of language more often (66% vs 48% P = 0.002) than monolinguals. Significant differences were not found in social interaction, use of nonverbal behaviors, peer relationships, sharing or social or emotional reciprocity, mannerisms, or autism severity. Bilingualism does not seem to confer an extra vulnerability on children with autism spectrum disorder; however, differences in qualitative use of language were observed.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000067877 Autism Spectrum Disorder Wide continuum of associated cognitive and neurobehavioral disorders, including, but not limited to, three core-defining features: impairments in socialization, impairments in verbal and nonverbal communication, and restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviors. (from DSM-V) Autistic Spectrum Disorder,Autism Spectrum Disorders,Autistic Spectrum Disorders,Disorder, Autistic Spectrum
D019303 Multilingualism The ability to speak, read, or write several languages or many languages with some facility. Bilingualism is the most common form. (From Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed) Bilingualism
D066107 Social Skills The personal set of abilities required to successfully interact and communicate with others, both verbally and non-verbally through gestures, body language and personal appearance. Interpersonal Skills,Social Abilities,Social Competence,Abilities, Social,Ability, Social,Competence, Social,Interpersonal Skill,Skill, Interpersonal,Skill, Social,Skills, Interpersonal,Skills, Social,Social Ability,Social Skill

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