In many families, a well-intentioned decision is made after the diagnosis: From now on, everyone will speak only German. The second language disappears because the parents don’t want to overwhelm their child linguistically. This is understandable, but research points in a different direction.
What did a study find on this topic?
A research team from Geneva, Thessaly, and Cambridge studied 103 children with autism between the ages of 6 and 15, 43 of whom were bilingual. All participants completed tasks related to Theory of Mind—that is, the ability to see things from another person’s perspective—and to executive functions, which include attention and action control. The bilingual children performed better across the board. On the Theory of Mind tasks, they answered 76 percent of the questions correctly, while the monolingual children answered 57 percent correctly. On the executive function tasks, their performance was even twice as good. One notable secondary finding is that, on average, the bilingual children came from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, yet the advantage persisted.
Why does this work precisely where it’s hardest?
Because using two languages in everyday life exercises precisely those cognitive skills that are often weaker in the spectrum. A bilingual child must consider, in every interaction, which language the other person speaks. This means they are constantly engaging with another person’s perspective, and that is the core of Theory of Mind. In a second step, they focus their attention on one language and set the other aside, which in turn challenges their executive functions. This switching happens many times a day.
What does this mean for families?
Above all, it’s a relief. People who speak Turkish, Polish, or Arabic at home don’t have to give up that language after receiving an autism diagnosis. Researchers even refer to it as a kind of natural therapy that takes place in everyday life anyway. It’s important, however, that the languages are clearly assigned—for example, one language per parent, or one for home and one for outside—because that makes it easier for the child to navigate. And if you hear advice at daycare or school that it’s better to stick to just one language, it’s worth pointing out these findings. For many families, the native language is also a source of belonging, and no one should have to trade that away for the sake of the child’s development.
Want to see more from JuCare?
For many families, the language spoken at home is more than just a practical matter. You can read about how we support families on our page about autism therapy. You can request therapy directly here. We share regular insights about autism in our newsletter and on Instagram.
