The advantages of bilingualism in autism, by Adam Feinstein

Many children grow up in homes where more than one language is spoken. This is generally thought to confer cognitive and other advantages. But we still know little about how hearing and speaking two languages affects the development of children with autism, a condition which is associated with difficulties with communication, relating to other people and a desire for repetition and routine. For many decades, professionals advised parents not to raise their autistic child in a bilingual learning environment, because this was likely to delay language development or even cause a language disorder. However, as the distinguished Hispanist and autism specialist, Adam Feinstein, will demonstrate in this illuminating talk, recent studies indicate that, on the contrary, exposing children with autism to more than one language tends to enhance communication with their parents and may play a positive role in creating and sustaining a good quality of life.