Comparing Early Language Development in Monolingual- and Bilingual- Exposed Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Elsevier. 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, FL 32887-4800. Tel: 877-839-7126; Tel: 407-345-4020; Fax: 407-363-1354; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.elsevier.com

Y

8

Age; Autism; Young Children; Monolingualism; Receptive Language; Expressive Language; Language Acquisition; Bilingualism; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Intelligence Quotient; Comparative Analysis; Matched Groups; Statistical Analysis; Intervention; Statistical Significance

10.1016/j.rasd.2011.12.002

1750-9467

The purpose of this study was to compare a group of recently diagnosed bilingual-exposed children with autism (n = 20) aged 24-2 months with a matched group of monolingual-exposed children with autism (n = 40). The groups were matched with regard to chronological age at the time of language assessment and nonverbal IQ score, then compared with regard to the severity of children's autism-related communication impairment, age of first words, age of first phrases, receptive language scores, expressive language scores, and functional communication scores. Univariate ANOVAs were performed for autism-related communication impairment, age of first words, and age of first phrases. A MANCOVA, with the total number of speech-language and applied behavior analysis intervention hours entered as a covariate, was performed on the remaining dependent variables. No statistically significant differences between the two groups on any of the language measures were observed. The results suggest that a bilingual language environment does not disadvantage young children with autism in the early stages of language development. Study limitations and research and clinical implications are discussed. (Contains 3 tables.)

As Provided

2012

EJ966839