Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) involves a wide range of differences in executive function (EF) skills, like inhibition and shifting, which are linked to core ASD symptoms such as social communication, perspective-taking, and repetitive behaviors. Recent studies suggest that speaking multiple languages may improve EF skills, particularly in children with ASD. However, more research is needed to fully understand how multilingualism, EF, and core ASD symptoms are connected.
A groundbreaking study from UCLA Health has shed new light on the cognitive benefits of speaking multiple languages, particularly in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The research shows that multilingualism enhances general cognitive abilities and may help children—both with and without autism—better control their thoughts, actions, and behaviors.
The study, led by Dr. Lucina Uddin, a professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA Health and director of the Brain Connectivity and Cognition Laboratory, found that children from multilingual households demonstrated stronger executive function skills. These skills, which ASD often impacts, include the ability to focus, understand others’ perspectives, communicate effectively, and exhibit fewer repetitive behaviors.
“It turns out that speaking multiple languages, whether or not you have a diagnosis of autism, is associated with better inhibition, shifting or flexibility, and perspective-taking ability,” Dr. Uddin said.
Initially conducted at the University of Miami, the study included more than 100 children aged 7 to 12 from monolingual and multilingual households. The majority of multilingual families spoke Spanish and English at home.
Parents were asked to rate their children’s executive function skills, commonly affected by ASD. The study focused on three key skills:
- Inhibition: The ability to suppress distractions or irrelevant actions.
- Working memory: The ability to remember and manipulate information, like a phone number.
- Shifting: The ability to switch between different tasks or mental activities.
In addition to these cognitive skills, parents were also asked to assess core autism-related behaviors such as social communication, perspective-taking, and repetitive actions.
The study’s results revealed a clear pattern: children in multilingual households performed better in all areas of executive function, regardless of whether they had autism. The study showed that multilingual children had better inhibition, shifting abilities, and perspective-taking skills compared to their peers in monolingual households.
“If you have to juggle two languages, you must suppress one to use the other. That’s the idea that inhibition might be bolstered by knowing two languages,” Dr. Uddin explained.
Multilingualism also appeared to have a positive effect on core symptoms for children with autism. The study noted that it helped with improved communication, reduced repetitive behaviors, and enhanced perspective-taking abilities—all skills that are usually tough for children on the autism spectrum.
This worries most parents of children with autism since they are afraid that learning more than one language would probably have adverse effects on the child’s language development. However, Dr. Uddin took care to say that no negative effects were discovered in the study results deriving from multilingualism, also adding that there was a possibility that children raised in a multilingual environment would benefit in the long run.
“The big takeaway is we don’t see any negative effects of speaking multiple languages in the home,” Uddin said. “Celebrating all the languages associated with your culture is beneficial.”
Encouraged by the results, Dr. Uddin and her team are expanding the study to recruit approximately 150 autistic children. The new research phase will include additional executive function and language tests and brain imaging to explore further the cognitive benefits of multilingualism and how it affects brain development in children with autism.
The expanding study aims to build on the current evidence and address some of the study’s limitations, providing deeper insight into how multilingualism influences cognitive development in children with ASD.
This research adds to a growing body of evidence that supports the cognitive advantages of multilingualism, particularly for children on the autism spectrum. By encouraging multilingualism, parents may nurture their child’s cultural heritage and enhance their mental flexibility, communication skills, and ability to manage behaviors—all important areas for children with and without autism.
As Dr. Uddin noted, “Celebrating and fostering multiple languages in the home isn’t just good for cultural reasons—it’s also good for brain development.”
Journal Reference:
- Celia Romero, Zachary T. Goodman, Lauren Kupis, Bryce Dirks, Meaghan V. Parlade, Amy L. Beaumont, Sandra M. Cardona, Jason S. Nomi, Michael Alessandri, Lynn K. Perry, Lucina Q. Uddin. Multilingualism impacts children’s executive function and core autism symptoms. Autism Research. DOI: 10.1002/aur.3260
