Bilingualism has long been associated with cognitive advantages, and a recent study suggests that these benefits may be even more pronounced in children with autism. A team of psychologists and researchers examined the effects of multilingualism on executive function in children aged 7 to 12, finding promising connections between speaking multiple languages and cognitive development.

How Bilingualism Supports Executive Function

Executive function refers to the mental skills necessary for focus, planning, remembering instructions, and multitasking. Children with autism often experience difficulties in these areas, affecting their ability to handle daily tasks and adapt to new situations. However, researchers discovered that multilingualism is linked to improvements in executive function, which, in turn, is associated with reduced autism symptoms.

“We discovered that multilingualism is associated with improvements in executive function,” said researcher Lynn Perry. The constant mental shifting between languages, known as joint activation, enhances cognitive control and flexibility.

Perspective-Taking and Social Benefits

Beyond cognitive improvements, bilingualism enhances perspective-taking skills — the ability to understand another person’s point of view. This skill is critical for social interactions, particularly for children with autism, who may struggle with interpreting social cues.

Researcher Celia Romero noted, “We found that multilingual children have enhanced perspective-taking skills, allowing them to better navigate social environments.”

Challenging Previous Assumptions

The study challenges the previous belief that learning multiple languages might overwhelm autistic children. Instead, experts argue that multilingualism should be encouraged.

As research continues, experts hope that more families of neurodivergent children will embrace bilingual education, ensuring long-term cognitive and social benefits.

This post was based on an original article in Earth.com.