The Benefits of a Bilingual Environment on The Psycho-Speech Development of Children With ASD

Аннотация

The article discusses the influence of the © 2025 Original content from this work may be used under the terms of the creative commons attributes 4.0 License. bilingual environment on the psycho-speech development of children with ASD. It also addresses the inclusion of these children into a bilingual environment to enhance their communication and speech skills. The research conducted within the article shows that children with ASD raised in a bilingual environment demonstrate a "bilingual advantage," which manifests in improved executive functions of brain activity. Keywords: Bilingualism, bilingual, monolingual, children's bilingualism, autism spectrum disorder, bilingual advantage, bilingual environment, cognitive functions, communication skills. Introduction: Early childhood autism (ASD) is a complex disorder of mental development, which is manifested by significant difficulties in the field of social interaction and communication [5]. According to a number of researchers (E. R. Baenskaya, M. M. Liebling, O. S. Nikolskaya, U. Frith, L. Wing, and others), one of the key factors limiting the adaptation and successful development of children with ASD is the underdevelopment of the psycho-speech sphere [2]. The speech development of such children may deviate from the age norm both in quantitative terms (speech delay, limited vocabulary, low speech activity) and in qualitative terms (echolalia, grammatical disorder, difficulties in using speech for communication). European International Journal of Pedagogics 151 https://eipublication.com/index.php/eijp European International Journal of Pedagogics A study by scientists from the University of Geneva with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are able to learn (Switzerland), the University of Thessaly (Greece) and two languages no less successfully than their the University of Cambridge (Great Britain) has shown monolingual peers. A number of studies have not that bilingualism partially compensates for the deficit revealed differences in language skills, including of the model of mental and executive function in vocabulary and stages of early language development, autistic children. This is reported in a press release between children with ASD who speak one and two from the University of Geneva. languages. Over the past ten years, researchers have been Moreover, the use of the native language in the home studying the development of autistic children in a environment provides the child with more diverse bilingual environment. They found that contact with speech patterns, which contributes to a better two languages does not hinder the speech assimilation of the language of the surrounding society development of children on the autism spectrum.The [6]. researchers observed the speech development of bilingual verbal children with autism and compared it Some studies have documented improvements in with the development of children who had contact cognitive and executive functions in bilingual children with only one language. Research results have shown with ASD compared to monolingual peers. In particular, that children who come into contact with two bilingualism can mitigate typical delays in speech and languages master speech skills no worse than children cognitive development. who come into contact with only one language. For example, an analysis conducted at McGill University So far, we have no research on the impact of a bilingual (Canada) showed that bilingual children with ASD switch environment on children who do not use spoken between tasks faster, demonstrating the so-called language to communicate. However, we know that "bilingual advantage" — improved planning skills, focus bilingualism does not harm the development of verbal of attention and flexibility of thinking. The parents of children on the autism spectrum. such children also noted a great ease in the transition between actions in everyday life. Research shows that children with ASD often do not have a natural need for communication, which is The results of research conducted at the University of expressed in avoiding contact, lack of dialogue, limited Geneva (Switzerland), the University of Thessaly expression of emotions, difficulties in understanding (Greece) and the University of Cambridge (Great Britain) other people's experiences and cognitive disharmony confirm that bilingualism partially compensates for the [1]. The speech symptoms in this group of children vary deficit in the development of the "mental model" — the in severity and nature, which makes it difficult for them ability to understand the intentions and emotions of to integrate into the social environment. other people, and also strengthens executive functions. Bilingual children with ASD showed significantly higher In today's multicultural society, more and more results in tasks that included assessments of thinking families use two or more languages in everyday flexibility, planning ability, and understanding of other communication, fo