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

唐氏综合症（DS）是最常见的神经发育障碍。相当比例的退行性残疾儿童也符合自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）的临床标准。考虑到这些儿童存在很大的语言困难，人们对双语接触的适宜性表示关注。然而，这些担忧没有经验依据：没有对这一双语人群进行过研究。关注威尔士-英语双语者，我们寻求解决的问题包括：1。这些人的语言能力如何？2.双语者双诊断DS/ASD的两种语言发展与单语者双诊断和单诊断个体的两种语言发展相比如何？我们的目标是解决理论问题，并告知当前双语研究中的争论。我们将通过测试临床人群中单语者受损的语言技能来做到这一点，但双语者被认为可以提高语言技能。我们将检查威尔士-英语双语者，同时诊断为DS/ASD，以及对照组。这些小组将接受语言和一般认知能力的测试。我们会安排既定的标准化测试和特别设计的词汇、语法、处理和非语言能力的任务，并通过问卷向家长/监护人收集进一步的信息。

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.