Second Language Exposure, Functional Communication, and Executive Function in Children With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Parents and professionals are concerned that second language exposure may delay communication in children with ASD. In this study 174 youth (6-16 years) with and without ASD, exposed to a second language, were compared on executive function (EF) and functional communication (FC) with their peers without exposure. There were no significant differences between groups on age, IQ, and socioeconomic status. Parents reported on language exposure and rated EF and FC skills within everyday social contexts. The findings indicated that second language exposure in children with ASD is not associated with delay in cognitive and functional communication skills rather there was evidence of a reduced clinical impact as indexed by a lower percentage of children whose FC and EF ratings fell within the clinical range.
Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada. giarocci@sfu.ca.
Grace
G
Iarocci
Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada.|BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3V4, Canada.
Sarah M
SM
Hutchison
Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada.
Gillian
G
O'Toole
D000293:Adolescent; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019303:Multilingualism; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010379:Peer Group
Autism spectrum disorder; Executive function; Functional communication; Second language exposure