Growing up in a multilingual household may help children with autism develop stronger cognitive abilities and reduce core autism symptoms, according to new research that challenges previous concerns about language exposure.
The study, published in Autism Research, found that children from multilingual homes showed enhanced executive function—the mental skills needed for daily tasks—regardless of whether they had autism. For children with autism, these benefits were particularly pronounced in certain areas.
Breaking Down Barriers
“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,” explains Dr. Lucina Uddin, a UCLA Health Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences Professor and study lead author.
The Power of Multiple Languages
The researchers studied over 100 children between ages 7 and 12, including both autistic and non-autistic children from monolingual and multilingual households. Most multilingual families in the study spoke Spanish and English at home.
The findings revealed that multilingual children demonstrated stronger abilities in several key areas:
- Better inhibition (ability to avoid distractions)
- Improved shifting (ability to switch between tasks)
- Enhanced perspective-taking skills
A Natural Exercise for the Brain
“If you have to juggle two languages, you have to suppress one in order to use the other. That’s the idea, that inhibition might be bolstered by knowing two languages,” Uddin notes.
Reassuring News for Parents
The research addresses a common concern among parents of autistic children that exposure to multiple languages might delay development. “The big takeaway is we don’t see any negative effects of speaking multiple languages in the home,” Uddin emphasizes. “It’s actually beneficial to celebrate all the languages associated with your culture.”
Looking Ahead
Building on these promising results, researchers are now expanding their investigation. A new study will recruit approximately 150 children with autism and include additional executive function and language tests, along with brain imaging, to better understand these beneficial effects.
The research was conducted initially at the University of Miami and published in the journal Autism Research on November 7, 2024.