Bilingualism: is it best?

This week’s podcast explores the question about whether or not it is beneficial or just confusing to teach your child with autism multiple languages, or suppress the use of more than one language at home. Turns out, being bilingual helps with executive functioning (or those with preserved executive functioning can be bilingual), language, and provides benefits in verbal IQ depending on SES. In other words, it’s not harmful, it can be helpful, and those who choose to speak two languages at home should continue to do so if they feel that it is enhancing their child’s learning. More information in the links below:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35102760/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34813032/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36222993/

Parents describe the “best things” about their kids with ASD

Parents may see challenges in their kids with ASD, but they also know what is great about them and the unique gifts they bring to the world. Now, researchers from Canada have inventoried and categorized these list of great qualities in a large study of children from 3-10 years of age. These “best things” identified and counted across ages should also be used when planning how to transition kids with ASD from EI or preschool into kindergarten. Another study included this week from Curtin University in Australia describes how parents see this process becoming a lot easier.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33532881/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33520781/