Download PDF
CC BY 4.0 · Journal of Child Science 2022; 12(01): e55-e66
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1743492
Original Article

Often Encountered but Rarely Reported: Challenges in Selecting Language(s) for Intervention in Bi/Multilingual Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Malavi Srikar
1   National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
,
Reny Raju
1   National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
,
Nikita Dadlani
1   National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
,
Divya Swaminathan
1   National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
,
Prathiksha Vaidhyanathan
2   Jupiter Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India
,
Shoba S. Meera 
1   National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
   Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

India is a socioculturally and linguistically diverse country. Most often individuals grow up exposed to more than one language. Apart from exposure to native and community languages, there is a growing preference for English as the language of formal education and employment. Previous studies demonstrated that bilingual children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) develop language similar to their monolingual nonverbal IQ-matched ASD peers. However, most of these studies have been conducted in countries in which English is the primary language for majority of the population. Although existing studies support a bilingual environment for children with ASD, professionals still seem to advise families' use of a monolingual approach. This paper reviews and discusses factors that influence the selection of language(s) for intervention in young children with ASD in bi/multilingual environments. These are discussed under three areas namely, (1) language environment of the child, (2) parent/caregivers' perspectives regarding bi/multilingual exposure, and (3) medium of education and availability of intervention services. This paper also highlights the complexities involved in the language selection process for intervention using four case vignettes. Based on the review and findings from the case vignettes, it is evident that there is a need for (1) sensitizing fellow professionals regarding the increasing shift toward a bi/multilingual approach, (2) formulating guidelines for this decision-making process, and (3) continuing to develop an evidence base for adopting multilingual approach for intervention in a socioculturally and linguistically diverse country like India.

Keywords

bilingual - multilingual - autism spectrum disorder - intervention - speech-language pathology


Publication History

Received: 04 January 2022

Accepted: 05 January 2022

Article published online:
07 July 2022

© 2022. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

  • References

  • 1 Government of India. Census of India Data. Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner; India: 2011
    Google Scholar
  • 2 Mallikarjun B. Multilingualism in 21st century India. Lang India 2019; 19 (09) 148-176
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Annamalai E. Nativization of English in India and its effect on multilingualism. J Lang Polit 2004; 3 (01) 151-162
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Azam M, Chin A, Prakash N. The returns to English-language skills in India. Econ Dev Cult Change 2013; 61 (02) 335-367
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Genesee F, Paradis J, Crago MB. Dual Language Development and Disorders: A Handbook on Bilingualism and Second Language Learning. Paul H Brookes; 2004
    Google Scholar
  • 6 Garcia-Sierra A, Ramírez-Esparza N, Kuhl PK. Relationships between quantity of language input and brain responses in bilingual and monolingual infants. Int J Psychophysiol 2016; 110: 1-17
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Ferjan Ramírez N, Ramírez RR, Clarke M, Taulu S, Kuhl PK. Speech discrimination in 11-month-old bilingual and monolingual infants: a magnetoencephalography study. Dev Sci 2017; 20 (01) 1-16
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Kroll JF, Dussias PE. The benefits of multilingualism to the personal and professional development of residents of the US. Foreign Lang Ann 2017; 50 (02) 248-259
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Meiran N. Task switching: Mechanisms underlying rigid vs. flexible self-control. In: Self Control in Society, Mind, and Brain. Oxford Series in Social Cognition and Social Neuroscience. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 2010: 202-220
    Google Scholar
  • 10 Marian V, Shook A. The cognitive benefits of being bilingual. Cerebrum 2012; 2012: 13
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Poarch GJ. Multilingual language control and executive function: a replication study. Front Commun (Lausanne) 2018; 3: 1-11
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Poarch GJ, Krott A. A bilingual advantage? An appeal for a change in perspective and recommendations for future research. Behav Sci (Basel) 2019; 9 (09) E95
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Gunnerud HL, Ten Braak D, Reikerås EKL, Donolato E, Melby-Lervåg M. Is bilingualism related to a cognitive advantage in children? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychol Bull 2020; 146 (12) 1059-1083
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Ousley O, Cermak T. Autism spectrum disorder: defining dimensions and subgroups. Curr Dev Disord Rep 2014; 1 (01) 20-28
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Maenner MJ, Shaw KA, Baio J. et al; EdS1; PhD-7. Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 years - autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network, 11 sites, United States, 2016. MMWR Surveill Summ 2020; 69 (04) 1-12
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Elsabbagh M, Divan G, Koh YJ. et al. Global prevalence of autism and other pervasive developmental disorders. Autism Res 2012; 5 (03) 160-179
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Arora NK, Nair MKC, Gulati S. et al. Neurodevelopmental disorders in children aged 2-9 years: population-based burden estimates across five regions in India. PLoS Med 2018; 15 (07) e1002615
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Rudra A, Belmonte MK, Soni PK, Banerjee S, Mukerji S, Chakrabarti B. Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder and autistic symptoms in a school-based cohort of children in Kolkata, India. Autism Res 2017; 10 (10) 1597-1605
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Brignell A, Chenausky KV, Song H, Zhu J, Suo C, Morgan AT. Communication interventions for autism spectrum disorder in minimally verbal children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2018; 11 (11) CD012324 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD012324.pub2.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Sendhilnathan S, Chengappa K. English as a medium of language intervention for bilingual children with autism spectrum disorders in a multilingual context-a review. Lang India 2019; 19: 435-445
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Drysdale H, van der Meer L, Kagohara D. Children with autism spectrum disorder from bilingual families: a systematic review. Rev J Autism Dev Disord 2015; 2 (01) 26-38
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Lund EM, Kohlmeier TL, Durán LK. Comparative language development in bilingual and monolingual children with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review. J Early Interv 2017; 39 (02) 106-124
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Sen M, Geetha YV. Language abilities in bilingual children with autism (CWA). J All India Inst Speech Hear 2011; 30: 146-159
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Reetzke R, Zou X, Sheng L, Katsos N. Communicative development in bilingually exposed Chinese children with autism spectrum disorders. J Speech Lang Hear Res 2015; 58 (03) 813-825
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Ohashi JK, Mirenda P, Marinova-Todd S. et al. Comparing early language development in monolingual- and bilingual-exposed young children with autism spectrum disorders. Res Autism Spectr Disord 2012; 6 (02) 890-897
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Valicenti-McDermott M, Tarshis N, Schouls M. et al. Language differences between monolingual English and bilingual English-Spanish young children with autism spectrum disorders. J Child Neurol 2013; 28 (07) 945-948
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Hambly C, Fombonne E. The impact of bilingual environments on language development in children with autism spectrum disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 2012; 42 (07) 1342-1352
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Beauchamp MLH, MacLeod AAN. Bilingualism in children with autism spectrum disorder: making evidence based recommendations. Can Psychol 2017; 58: 250-262
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 De Oliveira Ê. A literature review on bilingualism among children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. Rev Chilena Fonoaudiol 2015; 14: 33-44
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Lim N, O'Reilly MF, Sigafoos J, Lancioni GE. Understanding the linguistic needs of diverse individuals with autism spectrum disorder: some comments on the research literature and suggestions for clinicians. J Autism Dev Disord 2018; 48 (08) 2890-2895
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Lim N, O'Reilly MF, Sigafoos J, Ledbetter-Cho K, Lancioni GE. Should heritage languages be incorporated into interventions for bilingual individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders? A systematic review. J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 49 (03) 887-912
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 Yu B, Hsia S. Inclusion of heritage language learners on the autism spectrum: lessons from second-generation parents. Int J Appl Linguist (UK) 2019; 29 (03) 356-369
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Yu B. Bilingualism as conceptualized and bilingualism as lived: a critical examination of the monolingual socialization of a child with autism in a bilingual family. J Autism Dev Disord 2016; 46 (02) 424-435
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 34 Howard K, Gibson J, Katsos N. Parental perceptions and decisions regarding maintaining bilingualism in autism. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 51 (01) 179-192
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 35 Yu B. Issues in bilingualism and heritage language maintenance: perspectives of minority-language mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders. Am J Speech Lang Pathol 2013; 22 (01) 10-24
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 36 Petersen JM, Marinova-Todd SH, Mirenda P. Brief report: an exploratory study of lexical skills in bilingual children with autism spectrum disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2012; 42 (07) 1499-1503
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 37 Smith V, Summers C, Mueller V, Carillo A, Villaneda G. Evidence-based clinical decision making for bilingual children with autism spectrum disorders: a guide for clinicians. Perspect ASHA Spec Interest Groups 2018; 3 (14) 19-27
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 38 Sendhilnathan M, Chengappa SK. Effect of language intervention on mean length of utterance in monolingual and bilingual children with autism spectrum disorders in a multi-ethnic-lingual context. Lang India 2020; 20 (02) 66-85
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 39 De Oliveira Ê. A literature review on bilingualism among children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. Rev Chilena Fonoaudiol 2015; 14: 33-44
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 40 Hampton S, Rabagliati H, Sorace A, Fletcher-Watson S. Autism and bilingualism: a qualitative interview study of parents' perspectives and experiences. J Speech Lang Hear Res 2017; 60 (02) 435-446
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 41 Bird EKR, Lamond E, Holden J. Survey of bilingualism in autism spectrum disorders. Int J Lang Commun Disord 2012; 47 (01) 52-64
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 42 Medina AM, Salamon JT. Current issues in teaching bilingual children with autism spectrum disorder. J Am Acad Spec Educ Prof 2012; (Fall): 69-75
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 43 DuBay M, Watson LR, Zhang W. In search of culturally appropriate autism interventions: perspectives of Latino caregivers. J Autism Dev Disord 2018; 48 (05) 1623-1639
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 44 Schopler E. The childhood autism rating scale. West Psychol Serv 1994; 12031: 900251251
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 45 New DelhiMinistry of Social Justice & Empowerment: Government of India; ISAA. Report on Assessment Tool for Autism: Indian Scale for Assessment of Autism; 2009
    PubMed
  • 46 Karanth P, Shaista S, Srikanth N. Efficacy of communication DEALL–an indigenous early intervention program for children with autism spectrum disorders. Indian J Pediatr 2010; 77 (09) 957-962
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 47 Charlop-Christy MH, Carpenter M, Le L, LeBlanc LA, Kellet K. Using the picture exchange communication system (PECS) with children with autism: assessment of PECS acquisition, speech, social-communicative behavior, and problem behavior. J Appl Behav Anal 2002; 35 (03) 213-231
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 48 Lerna A, Esposito D, Conson M, Russo L, Massagli A. Social-communicative effects of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) in autism spectrum disorders. Int J Lang Commun Disord 2012; 47 (05) 609-617
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 49 Lerna A, Esposito D, Conson M, Massagli A. Long-term effects of PECS on social-communicative skills of children with autism spectrum disorders: a follow-up study. Int J Lang Commun Disord 2014; 49 (04) 478-485
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 50 Lang R, Rispoli M, Sigafoos J, Lancioni G, Andrews A, Ortega L. Effects of language of instruction on response accuracy and challenging behavior in a child with autism. J Behav Educ 2011; 20 (04) 252-259
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 51 Summers C, Smith V, Mueller V, Alexander V, Muzza A. Language of intervention in bilingual children with autism spectrum disorders. Perspect ASHA Spec Interest Groups 2017; 2 (01) 203-211
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 52 Jegatheesan B. Multilingual development in children with autism: perspectives of South Asian Muslim immigrant parents on raising a child with a communicative disorder in multilingual contexts. Biling Res J 2011; 34 (02) 185-200
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar