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A groundbreaking study from UCLA Health highlights the cognitive advantages of multilingualism in children, including those with autism. Published in the Autism Research journal, the research suggests that speaking multiple languages not only enhances general cognitive skills but may also aid in reducing certain autism-related symptoms, improving the ability to manage daily thoughts and actions for both autistic and non-autistic children.
The study, led by Dr. Lucina Uddin, a professor at UCLA Health’s Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and the director of the UCLA Brain Connectivity and Cognition Laboratory, provides valuable insights into the positive effects of multilingualism. “It turns out that speaking multiple languages, whether or not you have a diagnosis of autism, is associated with better inhibition, better shifting or flexibility, and also better perspective-taking ability,” Dr. Uddin said.
The research, initially conducted at the University of Miami, focused on over 100 children aged 7 to 12 from both monolingual and multilingual households. Many of the multilingual families spoke Spanish and English. Parents were asked to assess their children’s executive function skills, which often face challenges in children with autism spectrum disorder. Executive functions tested included:
- Inhibition: The ability to suppress distractions or irrelevant actions.
- Working memory: The capacity to retain and manipulate information, such as remembering a phone number.
- Shifting: The ability to transition between different tasks, such as switching from playing with toys to cleaning up.
Additionally, the study measured some core symptoms of autism, such as the ability to understand others’ perspectives, social communication, and repetitive behaviors.
The results indicated that children from multilingual households showed improved executive function skills, including enhanced inhibition, shifting, and perspective-taking, regardless of whether they had autism. These children also displayed fewer repetitive behaviors.
Dr. Uddin explained that managing two languages can strengthen inhibition skills. “If you have to juggle two languages, you have to suppress one in order to use the other. That’s the idea— inhibition might be bolstered by knowing two languages.”
Furthermore, multilingualism appeared to positively influence core autism symptoms. Children with autism showed enhanced communication abilities, reduced repetitive behaviors, and a greater capacity for perspective-taking.
One common concern among parents of autistic children is that learning multiple languages might delay their child’s language development. However, Dr. Uddin reassured that the study’s findings show no negative effects and suggest potential long-term benefits. “The big takeaway is we don’t see any negative effects of speaking multiple languages in the home,” she said. “It’s actually beneficial to celebrate all the languages associated with your culture.”
The study’s success has prompted Dr. Uddin to expand her research. The next phase will recruit about 150 children with autism, incorporating more in-depth tests of executive function and language skills, as well as brain imaging, to explore the long-term impact of multilingualism on cognitive development.
For more information, refer to the study: Celia Romero et al., Multilingualism impacts children’s executive function and core autism symptoms, Autism Research (2024). DOI: 10.1002/aur.3260.
