Autismoaren Espektro Nahasmendua (AEN) duten haur elebidunen hizkuntza gaitasunak

Abstract

It is estimated that over half of the world's population speaks multiple languages. Despite the growing number of bilingual children diagnosed with autism, we still do not know the impact of bilingualism on their language development, so much so that the abandonment of one of the child's languages is often recommended. This project will study the effect of bilingualism on the language development of autistic children by exploiting the context of the Basque Country, which presents a continuum of bilingual
situations and where the vitality of the Basque language is recognised. Tests targeting various linguistic and non-linguistic domains will be given to three groups of bilingual children in their two languages (Basque and Spanish/French): with autism, with a language disorder and without a disorder (aged 6 to 12). The results from the bilingual children will be cross-referenced with information on their early language development, language exposure and language use obtained via a parental questionnaire.