This systematic review investigates the impact of bilingualism on language development in children over the age of three years diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). While traditionally considered a complicating factor in language acquisition, bilingualism is increasingly being examined for its potential benefits in cognitive and linguistic domains among neurodivergent populations. The review synthesizes data from recent studies published between 2019 and 2024, focusing on vocabulary development, grammatical accuracy, pronoun use, narrative ability, executive functions, and pragmatic language use. Studies were selected using established inclusion criteria, assessed with the STROBE checklist, and analyzed using the PICO framework. Findings indicate that bilingualism does not hinder language development in children with ASD and may enhance executive functioning, memory, and communicative flexibility. Limitations across studies include small sample sizes, cultural variability, and inconsistent methodologies. Future research is encouraged to adopt longitudinal approaches and include more diverse linguistic environments to further understand the developmental trajectory of bilingual children with ASD. Overall, the evidence suggests that bilingual exposure should not be discouraged in this population and may offer unique developmental advantages.
Ελευθερία Ν. Στόικου (Wed,) studied this question.
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