Bimodal bilinguals: Is there a bilingual advantage?

Date of Submission

Spring 2025

Document Type

Closed Research Project

Degree Name

Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology

Department

Speech-Language Pathology

First Advisor

Beatriz Barragan, PhD

Abstract

Bilingualism fosters cognitive development, enhances communication, and strengthens neurological resilience. Research suggests that bilinguals demonstrate increased neuroplasticity, executive functioning, and greater gray matter density, particularly in early bilinguals. While bilingualism often refers to spoken languages, it also includes American Sign Language (ASL). Historically suppressed, ASL has been shown to support rather than hinder speech and language development. This study examined the cognitive effects of bimodal bilingualism—proficiency in a spoken and signed language—by comparing monolingual and bimodal bilingual adults on various cognitive tasks. Thirty bimodal bilingual adults completed cognitive tasks, including number recall, hand movement, nonword repetition (NWR) task, Flanker and Switching Tasks. The performance was compared to 30 monolingual participants from a previous study. Bilinguals performed significantly better than monolinguals in the digit span, the Switching Task (accuracy) and Flanker Task (reaction time). No significant differences were found for NWR, switching task (reaction time) and hand movement. The latter showed a trend indicating that bimodal bilinguals outperform monolinguals. Monolinguals only outperformed bilinguals in the Flanker task – accuracy.  These results underline the influence of bimodal bilingualism on cognition, and inform instructional strategies for bilingual learners, highlighting the cognitive benefits of signed languages. These findings are particularly relevant for children with hearing loss, as they support the cognitive and linguistic benefits of early exposure to both spoken and signed languages.

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