Effects of Cultural and Language Barriers on the Outcome of Autism Spectrum Disorder Amongst Children from the Somali Immigrant Population of Minnesota

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a devastating developmental disorder with a decline in both neurological and behavioral functions. ASK can present with delays in language development, social skills, and restricts behavioral patterns. The prevalence of ASD has been on the rise int he United States with a rate of one in 69 children. Moreover, the prevalence of ASD has been drastically increasing in the Somali community of Minnesota affecting one in 32 children. Many research studies associate the rise of ASD in the Somali community with the elements of culture, tradition, and language barriers. This research paper will explore how different cultural beliefs, perceptions, and the language barrier affects the diagnosis and treatment of ASD in the Somali community of Minneapolis, MN. The findings discussed in this research paper are compiled and extracted from peer-reviewed articles, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses published between 2010 and 2018. This research paper examines the strengths and limitations of the reviewed articles and discusses recommendations and indications for future and ongoing research