The Impact of Metaphoric Language Intervention on Psychological Perceptions of Students with Autism

This study aimed to investigate the influence of metaphoric language intervention (MLI) on students' psychological perception in bilingual learning, focusing on both autistic and students with non-autism. Students with autism often exhibit apprehension toward engaging in bilingual learning with their peers, resulting in reduced enjoyment and unfavorable language learning outcomes. A cohort of 108 students with autism and 102 students with non-autism, who demonstrated psychological perception engagement through MLI, was recruited for the study. The findings revealed that autistic male students reported higher levels of enjoyment in MLI compared to autistic female students, with metaphoric expressions being preferred over literal ones. Additionally, a positive correlation was observed between the quality of MLI and increased psychological perception, receptiveness, and enjoyment in bilingual learning, leading to favorable perceptual outcomes for students with autism. These findings highlight the critical role of integrating MLI and implementing targeted psychological perceptions to enhance the quality of bilingual learning for students with autism. This approach shows promise as a practical and universally applicable language therapy that effectively addresses challenges in bilingual learning and fosters a deeper interest in communication, particularly among individuals with autism.