Machalicek, WendyWei, Qi2022-10-042022-10-042022-10-04https://hdl.handle.net/1794/27599The present study explored the relationship between amount of dual language exposure, parents’ language quality and bilingual competence among Chinese American children with autism spectrum disorder by using a cross-sectional correlational design. Thirty parent-child dyads participated in this study. Survey and observational data were collected online. Results suggest that professional advice and autism severity were not significantly related to amount of reductions in heritage language exposure. Caregivers reduced their use of Mandarin in home environment regardless of the severity levels of their child’s autism symptoms. Language exposure accounted for significant variations in bilingual outcomes with higher amount of exposure to each language contributing to larger expressive vocabulary size in each language. The findings reflected that parents’ use of follow-in comment and repeat contributed to Mandarin expressive vocabulary, while expansion and question asking contributed to English expressive vocabulary. Implications for future research and culturally adapted interventions for bilingual families are provided.en-USAll Rights Reserved.autism spectrum disorderbilingual familiesquality of parent-child interactionquantity of language exposureElectronic Thesis or Dissertation