Speech assessment in the mother tongue of multilingual children suspected of having a speech sound disorder: an exploratory study

Abstract

Title: Speech assessment in the mother tongue of multilingual children suspected of having a speech sound disorder: an exploratory study. Background: Speech language therapists (SLTs) perform speech assessments in the mother tongue (L1) of young multilinguals with relatives as informal interpreters. No literature was found about this type of cooperation. Aims: 1) To explore the cooperation between SLTs and informal interpreters, by observing the interaction during the speech assessment in L1 of a young multilingual suspected of having a speech sound disorder (SSD). 2) To describe the experiences of SLTs and informal interpreters while executing their roles and tasks during this assessment. Method: A mixed method study was conducted of six observations of speech assessments in L1 using Speakaboo and twelve interviews with SLTs and interpreters. SLTs in private practices were invited. They selected Somali, Turkish, Polish and Moroccan Arabic families. The instruction was analysed by counting communication breakdowns. Its content was analysed, as well as the alignment in the interaction, with a self-developed observation form. Eliciting responses in L1 was analysed by counting turn distribution, ratio of turns between L1 and Dutch, and analysing the production of Speakaboo items. Interviews were thematically analysed using constant comparison. Results: Cooperation was successful. Interpreters understood the instruction and successfully elicited responses in L1. SLTs managed to facilitate this. Participants considered cooperation with relatives as informal interpreter possible with Speakaboo. It facilitated interaction about L1 and about the language situation of the family. Conclusion: Under certain conditions cooperating with relatives is possible to assess the speech of young children in L1. This contributes to better diagnoses for multilinguals suspected of having a SSD. Instruments which enable speech assessments in L1, function as a bridge between the Dutch language culture and a bilingual culture. Recommendations: Research to determine whether cooperation during speech assessment in L1 leads to other treatment goals is needed.