I have an au pair who is from Costa Rica and I speak some Spanish myself. I was very excited that Jack (age 4) hear and learn some Spanish. But we were advised that he NOT be exposed to another language at this point.
I think it would depend on the child's level of impairment for one thing. And that which ever they choose is consistent at least in the beginning.
If he is having a very rough time with learning language and needs things concrete I can see where it would be prudent to pick one langauge and stick with that until he is efficient in it. I could also see making that the language which he will most often be expected to use. So for instance, if he is learning to request a drink and he uses his native language word for "drink" or "juice" when he goes to preschool or school and hasn't been able yet to learn that both words mean the same thing he may ask for juice in his native language. The aides will not understand and not follow his request and there is the possibility the new skill will be lost.
That reminds me that I have a friend who is bilingual. Her DS is/was (open to debate) PDD-NOS and same deal -- she is very sad that she was not able to share her language with her kids. (She didn't teach her DD either since her kids are only 12 months apart and that would have been hard to do.)
I think it would be ok eventually if the child is higher functioning. If he is more aspie like with a large vocab then maybe, but a more impacted autistic with language problems it would stand to reason that it would be confusing.
I don't know anyone in particular who has done it one way or another. I asked DH and he didn't know either.
I have an au pair who is from Costa Rica and I speak some Spanish myself. I was very excited that Jack (age 4) hear and learn some Spanish. But we were advised that he NOT be exposed to another language at this point.
HTH,
Cathy
cathy,
i'm curious to how the au pair thing works. could you explain?
valerie
I think it would depend on the child's level of impairment for one thing. And that which ever they choose is consistent at least in the beginning.
If he is having a very rough time with learning language and needs things concrete I can see where it would be prudent to pick one langauge and stick with that until he is efficient in it. I could also see making that the language which he will most often be expected to use. So for instance, if he is learning to request a drink and he uses his native language word for "drink" or "juice" when he goes to preschool or school and hasn't been able yet to learn that both words mean the same thing he may ask for juice in his native language. The aides will not understand and not follow his request and there is the possibility the new skill will be lost.
my 2 cents
Renee
I've heard there is a higher incidence of Selective Mutism (anxiety disorder) in kids from bilingual homes.
FYI
Samantha
delete
Edited 2/19/2008 7:52 pm ET by littleroses
That reminds me that I have a friend who is bilingual. Her DS is/was (open to debate) PDD-NOS and same deal -- she is very sad that she was not able to share her language with her kids. (She didn't teach her DD either since her kids are only 12 months apart and that would have been hard to do.)
Cathy
I think it would be ok eventually if the child is higher functioning. If he is more aspie like with a large vocab then maybe, but a more impacted autistic with language problems it would stand to reason that it would be confusing.
I don't know anyone in particular who has done it one way or another. I asked DH and he didn't know either.
Renee