Language Development in Welsh-English Bilingual Children with Down Syndrome and Autism Summary

摘要唐氏综合征(DS)是最常见的神经发育障碍。相当大比例的DS儿童也符合自闭症谱系障碍(ASD)的临床标准。考虑到这些儿童严重的语言困难，人们对双语暴露在这些儿童中的适宜性表示担忧。然而，这些担忧没有实证基础：还没有对这一双语人群进行研究。聚焦于威尔士-英语双语者，我们试图解决的问题包括：1.这一人群的语言能力是什么？2.与患有DS/ASD双重诊断的单语者和单一诊断的个体相比，患有DS/ASD的双语者两种语言的发展如何？我们的目标是解决理论问题，并为当前双语研究中的辩论提供信息。我们将通过测试临床人群中单一语言者的语言技能来实现这一点，但双语能力被认为是增强的。我们将检查患有DS/ASD双重诊断的威尔士-英语双语者，以及对照组。这些小组将接受测试，测试语言和一般认知能力。我们将执行既定的标准化测试和专门设计的词汇、语法、处理和非语言能力的任务，并将通过问卷从父母/监护人那里收集进一步的信息。

SummaryDown syndrome (DS) is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder. A substantial proportion of children with DS also meet the clinical criteria for Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). There are concerns regarding the suitability of bilingual exposure in these children, given their substantial language difficulties. However, these concerns have no empirical basis: no research has been conducted on this bilingual population. Focussing on Welsh-English bilinguals, the questions we seek to address include:1.What are the language abilities in this population? 2.How does development of the two languages in bilinguals with dual diagnosis of DS/ASD compare to development in monolinguals with this dual diagnosis, and in individuals with single diagnosis? We aim to address theoretical questions and inform current debates in bilingualism research. We will do this by testing language skills which are impaired in monolinguals in this clinical population, but which bilingualism is thought to enhance.We will examine Welsh-English bilinguals with a dual diagnosis of DS/ASD, as well as control groups. The groups will be tested on measures examining linguistic and general cognitive abilities. We will administer established standardised tests and specially designed tasks of vocabulary, grammar, processing and non verbal abilities, while further information will be collected from parents/guardians using questionnaires.