The impact of bilingualism, culture and first language on social outcomes of children with autism spectrum disorder in robot-assisted autism therapy
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Bilingualism is a widespread linguistic phenomenon globally, and Kazakhstan is no exception. The interplay between bilingualism and autism is an emerging area of research being explored far and wide. The current study examines the socio-emotional outcomes of 34 monolingual and bilingual children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), aged 3 to 12 years, in the context of robot-assisted autism therapy (RAAT). The children participated in an average of five sessions with the NAO robot in a rehabilitation center. The findings reveal that bilingual children demonstrated socio-emotional outcomes and engagement levels comparable to their monolingual peers. However, monolingual children exhibited significantly higher levels of positive affect, as indicated by more frequent smiling, challenging the notion of bilingual advantage in this context. Additionally, ethnicity did not moderate the children’s engagement with the social robot, indicating no significant cultural differences based on ethnic background. Notably, some differences in social outcomes were observed based on the children’s first language (L1). These findings highlight the influence of local linguistic and cultural realities on socio-emotional outcomes in RAAT. The study provides valuable insights into the relationship between language, autism, and robot-assisted therapy, with implications for future research and therapeutic practices.
Authors: Aida Amir, Zhansaule Telisheva, Aida Tungatarova, Nazerke Rakhymbayeva, Anara Sandygulova
Institution: Nazarbayev University
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Funder: Nazarbayev University
Award: G588838450
OpenAlex ID: W4412635247