Serving multicultural and/or multilingual clients with speech-sound disorders is a challenging but rewarding task faced by clinicians worldwide. The three lecturers in this presentation will show examples of challenges they encountered in their practice to highlight solutions to everyday clinical problems in this colorful population.

Abstract

Assessing speech sound development in multilingual children, particularly those learning English as a second language, is complex due to varying language exposure and learning timelines that influence their speech outcomes and developmental paths. Clinicians face the challenge of distinguishing between the influence of bilingual exposure and true speech sound disorders, leading to concerns about diagnostic accuracy. This presentation will address these challenges by examining key assessment areas, including caregiver concerns, contextual intelligibility evaluation, and the use of stimulability testing as a dynamic assessment approach.

Although monolingual language development research provides valuable insights, multilingual assessment requires additional considerations. We'll explore language transfer patterns unique to specific language pairs, focusing on segmental features and phonotactic rules beyond consonant clusters. The presentation will also address the role of accent modification in transfer patterns and discuss ethical and effective clinical approaches to this issue.

To support clinical decision-making, a structured decision tree will be presented, guiding clinicians in distinguishing between typical language differences and possible disorders. Through these tools and frameworks, this presentation aims to provide practical strategies for clearer, more effective assessments that support optimal outcomes for multilingual children.

Multilingual and Multicultural Aspects in Assessment & Intervention of SSD