Journal Article

Parental Perceptions and Decisions Regarding Maintaining Bilingualism in Autism

Howard, Katie, Gibson, Jenny, Katsos, Napoleon

2021

Overview

A growing body of evidence suggests that bilingual exposure does not negatively impact children on the autism spectrum. This study sought to illuminate parents’ perceptions and choices regarding maintaining bilingualism in autism. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 family members in England and Wales. Data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Although parents expressed positive attitudes towards bilingualism, these views were not always congruent with their language practices. Instead, several factors influenced decisions about language maintenance in autism, including the severity of the child’s autism, advice received, and the importance of English as the dominant societal language. This article calls for greater support for families in making language decisions that are suitable for the individual child and their family.

• Publisher: Springer US,Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Adolescent / Adult / African Languages / Applied Linguistics / Autism / Autism Spectrum Disorders / Autistic children / Autistic Disorder - diagnosis / Autistic Disorder - psychology / Behavioral Science and Psychology / Beliefs, opinions and attitudes / Bilingualism / Child / Child and School Psychology / Child Development / Children / Communication (Thought Transfer) / Cultural Influences / Decision making / Decision Making - physiology / Decisions / Delayed Speech / Development and progression / Diagnosis / England - epidemiology / English / English language / Families & family life / Family (Sociological Unit) / Female / Foreign Countries / Humans / Interpersonal Relationship / Interpretative phenomenological analysis / Language / Language attitudes / Language Dominance / Language Impairments / Language maintenance / Language Skill Attrition / Language Usage / Male / Monolingualism / Multilingualism / Native Language / Neurosciences / Original Paper / Parent Attitudes / Parents / Parents & parenting / Parents - psychology / Pediatrics / Perception - physiology / Perceptions / Pervasive Developmental Disorders / Pragmatics / Psychological Patterns / Psychology / Public Health / Public opinion / Relatives / Severity (of Disability) / Social Influences / Thinking Skills / Wales - epidemiology / Young Adult