Gross Megan C, Dubé Kylie
Department of Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA.
Reliant Pro Rehabilitation LLC.
Perspect ASHA Spec Interest Groups. 2025 Feb;10(1):288-311. doi: 10.1044/2024_persp-24-00194. Epub 2025 Feb 10.
Previous research and clinical practice guidelines indicate that it is best practice to support bilingual children with communication disorders in both of their languages. However, there is a shortage of bilingual speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in the United States. Therefore, it is important to examine how SLPs with varying linguistic backgrounds serve their bilingual clients. This study investigated the language practices of SLPs during intervention with bilingual children and identified needed resources.
This convergent mixed-methods study included a survey and semi-structured interviews, with interviewees sampled purposively based on survey responses. Quantitative analyses were examined alongside qualitative themes to address each research question.
Overall, 21.5% of the bilingual clients described by survey respondents were reported to receive intervention in both of their languages. SLPs who shared both languages with their clients and had a professional level of proficiency were more likely to provide services in both languages and to engage in code-switching during sessions. Qualitative analysis revealed creative strategies that SLPs used to overcome their own linguistic limitations when they lacked skills in a client's heritage language. Although practices varied based on the SLP's linguistic background, respondents identified similar priorities, including more bilingual providers and access to training, multilingual materials, and interpreters.
This study contributes insights into SLPs serve their bilingual clients and what resources are needed to improve services. Although this study focused on Massachusetts and had a small sample, the findings may apply to other states, and there may be benefits to addressing these questions at a state level to provide targeted advocacy, training, and resources.
先前的研究和临床实践指南表明，支持有沟通障碍的双语儿童使用其两种语言是最佳做法。然而，美国缺乏双语言语语言病理学家（SLP）。因此，研究具有不同语言背景的SLP如何为其双语客户提供服务很重要。本研究调查了SLP在对双语儿童进行干预期间的语言实践，并确定了所需资源。
这项收敛性混合方法研究包括一项调查和半结构化访谈，受访者根据调查回复进行有目的抽样。对定量分析和定性主题进行了研究，以解决每个研究问题。
总体而言，调查受访者描述的双语客户中有21.5%据报告接受了两种语言的干预。与客户共享两种语言且具备专业水平熟练度的SLP更有可能用两种语言提供服务，并在治疗过程中进行语码转换。定性分析揭示了SLP在缺乏客户母语技能时用来克服自身语言限制的创造性策略。尽管实践因SLP的语言背景而异，但受访者确定了类似的优先事项，包括更多双语服务提供者以及获得培训、多语言材料和口译员的机会。
本研究为SLP如何为其双语客户提供服务以及改善服务需要哪些资源提供了见解。尽管本研究聚焦于马萨诸塞州且样本量较小，但研究结果可能适用于其他州，在州一级解决这些问题可能有助于提供有针对性的宣传、培训和资源。
