Bilingual child and ASD

[MarsuFan]

ds2 has just been referred to a development paed (I think?) for possible ASD.

He is also a bilingual child, brought in a 'bicultural' family so we speak 2 languages, watch TV from both countries, meals etc....

Knowing that AS children struggle with non verbal communication and social standards (what is acceptable or not), I have been wondering if our family environment isn't making things even more difficult for him.

Has anyone being in that situation?

DS1 (9) has ASD and ADHD and has been brought up with 2 languages. Initially it took him a little longer than other kids to pick up some aspects of grammar, but he has had no other problems.

We have recently moved abroad and he is now fluent in a third language. He picked this language up really quickly and my hope is that however he does at school he will at least have his language skills to fall back on when he gets older.

Same here. DS (6) has ASD and a language disorder is among his difficulties, but I kept speaking to him exclusively in my mother tongue and I think it has been very good for him. Both languages have improved at a similar rate, and I think if anything being bilingual helps him being more flexible.
I would say, persevere, and good luck!

I posted recently about my son (GDD and other problems as yet undiagnosed). We are a bilingual family too, and all the people who responded advised me to keep on with it. One response was from a poster who is a SALT (moondog), and she was very encouraging and positive about keeping up the bilingualism.

Thank you.
I have to say, even though ds2 has some clear language issues (but whether this has anything to do with being bilingual is a different issue), I have been more wondering about social norms and issues.

So for example, in France, you say hello by giving a kiss to people (men or women) but you would not do that in the UK. It is also normal to give your name and ask the other person who they are (It is actively encouraged that children do that at the park etc.. for example) but you would never see that here.

Knowing he has some issues in knowing what social rules applies and what is OK to do, I was wondering if it wasn't in some ways confusing. Eg: I will ask someone what their name is even though it isn't Ok here (but is France) iyswim?

What I find reassuring is that it could actually help with being more flexible so could be an advantage rather than a hindrance? Did I get that right?

About being flexible - there is research on the neurological benefits of bilingualism. Not specific to children with ASD, but still.
But more than that, one of the things DS has difficulty with is 'theory of mind'. For instance, the fact that different people have different likes and dislikes and beliefs. I think that being aware that in different countries they say things differently has provided him with an avenue for understanding that.
I see what you mean about different customs - I'm from Southern Italy and we certainly do a lot of things differently from the UK. I must admit that I'm teaching DS Italian manners - hug, kiss, eat pizza with your hands, wear sunglasses on the tube - but seeing as it's London nobody is raising an eyebrow

We are in the North of England... Hug, kiss and wearing sunglasses on the tube (if we had one!) would not go down well at all!! I have 'insulted' a few people myself for not having followed the rules....

Having said that, yes I remember the bit too about helping children to be more flexible. I had forgotten that.

I have found this on bilingualism in children with special needs if anyone is interested

My DD is 8 with ASD. We are in a slightly different situation in that we are a UK family living in France. Both kids (DS is 5, no SN) speak English at home and go to French school. When DD was diagnosed (at 3.5-4) we agonised for ages about whether we should return to the UK. In the end we stayed and DD is now fully bilingual. Huge delay in both languages but functions at about the same level with both. Is in an ASD unit and only has speech therapy in French but seems to manage to apply concepts she learns to both languages...with a little help from her parents! Would life have been easier if we had stuck to English? impossible to say. Do I think she benefits enormously from being bilingual? No question. Loved it on our recent holiday to Italy when she learnt to say "mi chiamo DD" to the people we rented our cottage from and learnt to order her meal in a resto with plenty of "per favore" and "grazie". I guess when they are already used to another language then a new one doesn't horrify them so much!

oh yes, and she handles social situations because different countries equals different rules...so I guess that is different for us!

It's funny that your DD has learnt a bit of Italian Brioche because my DS has learnt a bit of French: the numbers to 10, bonjour and merci. He's only tried them out on my mother though, who was mighty impressed (but then, she thinks the sun shines out of DS's little derriere)