Bilingualism is generally acknowledged as having no negative impact on Executive Function (EF) in typically developing (TD) children. However, its effects on children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are less clear, raising concerns among parents and educators. This study examines how bilingual exposure and nonverbal IQ, influences two components of EF (i.e., working memory and inhibitory control) in 5- to 8-year-old Cantonese-English bilingual children with ASD, compared to age-matched bilingual TD children. The study involved 42 bilingual autistic children and 31 bilingual TD children, with ASD diagnoses confirmed by the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2). All participants were born in Hong Kong, acquiring Cantonese as their first language and English as a second language before age three. Their working memory was assessed through the backward digit span task, inhibitory control through the Flanker task, and nonverbal IQ through the Primary Test of Nonverbal Intelligence. Parents provided information on their education levels and children’s bilingual exposure in different settings. Results showed no significant differences in working memory or inhibitory control between groups. In autistic children, working memory positively correlated with Cantonese exposure at home and age, while in TD children, it positively correlated with nonverbal IQ and age. The Flanker reaction time did not correlate to any measures in autistic and TD children. Our findings suggest that bilingualism has no detrimental effect on EF of autistic children. Our study provides essential guidance for parents and educators to make better-informed language and educational decisions for autistic children in bilingual communities.

Authors:
Haoyan Ge, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Ge is currently Assistant Professor in the School of Education and Languages, and Deputy Director of the Research Institute for Bilingual Learning and Teaching (RIBiLT) at Hong Kong Metropolitan University.

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