Cited by 105Language Development and DisordersNeurobiology of Language and BilingualismAutism Spectrum Disorder Research

Practitioner review: Multilingualism and neurodevelopmental disorders—an overview of recent research and discussion of clinical implications

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Uljarević, Mirko, Katsos, Napoleon, Hudry, Kristelle, Gibson, Jenny L.·2016·Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Language and communication skills are essential aspects of child development, which are often disrupted in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Cutting edge research in psycholinguistics suggests that multilingualism has potential to influence social, linguistic and cognitive development. Thus, multilingualism has implications for clinical assessment, diagnostic formulation, intervention and support offered to families. We present a systematic review and synthesis of the effects of multilingualism for children with neurodevelopmental disorders and discuss clinical implications. METHODS: We conducted systematic searches for studies on multilingualism in neurodevelopmental disorders. Keywords for neurodevelopmental disorders were based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition categories as follows; Intellectual Disabilities, Communication Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Specific Learning Disorder, Motor Disorders, Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders. We included only studies based on empirical research and published in peer-reviewed journals. RESULTS: Fifty studies met inclusion criteria. Thirty-eight studies explored multilingualism in Communication Disorders, 10 in ASD and two in Intellectual Disability. No studies on multilingualism in Specific Learning Disorder or Motor Disorders were identified. Studies which found a disadvantage for multilingual children with neurodevelopmental disorders were rare, and there appears little reason to assume that multilingualism has negative effects on various aspects of functioning across a range of conditions. In fact, when considering only those studies which have compared a multilingual group with developmental disorders to a monolingual group with similar disorders, the findings consistently show no adverse effects on language development or other aspects of functioning. In the case of ASD, a positive effect on communication and social functioning has been observed. CONCLUSIONS: There is little evidence to support the widely held view that multilingual exposure is detrimental to the linguistic or social development of individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders. However, we also note that the available pool of studies is small and the number of methodologically high quality studies is relatively low. We discuss implications of multilingualism for clinical management of neurodevelopmental disorders, and discuss possible directions for future research.

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  9. Uljarevic, M., Katsos, N., Hudry, K. & Gibson, J. L. (2016). Practitioner Review: Multilingualism and neurodevelopmental disorders -an overview of recent research and discussion of clinical implications. JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY, 57 (11), pp.1205-1217. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12596. Persistent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11343/291530

Authors
Uljarević, M., Katsos, N., Hudry, K., & Gibson, J. L.
Affiliations
  • La Trobe University (AU)
  • University of Cambridge (GB)
Corresponding author
Uljarević, Mirko
Venue
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2016-07-22
Volume
57
Issue
11
Pages
1205-1217
ISSN
  • 0021-9630 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-7610
OpenAlex
W2488642414
Cited by
105
References
91
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 3
FWCI
1.05
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Minerva Access (University of Melbourne) (submittedVersion)
  • Apollo (University of Cambridge) (submittedVersion)
  • Apollo
Funders
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AH/N004671/1)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Language Development and Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
Keywords
multilingualism, neurodevelopmental disorders, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, communication disorders, language development, cognitive development, clinical evaluation, clinical intervention
MeSH terms
Child, Humans, Multilingualism, Neurodevelopmental Disorders

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