Background
The most general aim of assessment is identification – differentiating typical from atypical language development. With regards to serving the very heterogeneous group of multilingual children, language assessment is one of the greatest challenges faced by monolingual speech and language therapists (SLT). The associated difficulties have been discussed in a number of recent articles
... [Show full abstract] (Bedore and Peña 2008). It is generally recommended that multilingual children be assessed in both their languages (IALP 2011, ASHA 1985). However, this multilingual assessment often proves to be remarkably difficult to implement: (a) due to the lack of systematic, norm-referenced assessment materials in a number of languages, and (b) due the open question, even in those cases where assessment in both languages is feasible, how the results should be interpreted with languages differing in structure and in use as well as in developmental sequences and milestones, and (c) due to the lack of bilingual professional speech language therapists with regard to the mismatches in client and clinician languages and cultures. These circumstances may result in two typical misidentifications: overidentification by classifying language differences as language impairment (LI), and underidentification by falsely attributing possible language deficits to the multilingual background of a child.
Method
The Inductive Approach to differentiate LI from lack of language skills will be introduced as a result of own research (Scharff Rethfeldt 2013), which combines direct and indirect language measures, based upon Cummins’ theories (2001). Following the Inductive Approach, the SLT will be able to drive a differential diagnosis by considering the patient’s individual background including both languages and cultures (i.e. Bilingual Patient’s Profile including culturally diverse case history and preassessment information) when using standardized tools. Examples will be presented from findings from research on 25 children with different linguistic backgrounds and migration background for which German is a second language, which is gradually being acquired before 6 years of age in different natural contexts (Scharff Rethfeldt 2010).
Results and Learning Objective
Administering and interpreting standardized measures in a nonstandardized format by using dynamic methods and processoriented procedures helps the SLT to receive more information of the language competences of linguistically diverse children in order to differentiate under- and overidentification in multilingual assessment as part of the Inductive Approach (Scharff Rethfeldt 2013).
Even monolingual SLT may be able to differentiate nondisabled children from those with SLT when considering and reflecting the multiple language background of a multilingual child following the Inductive Approach and clinical intercultural competent interpretation of language performance.
Resources
ASHA (American Speech Language Hearing Association) (1985): Clinical management of communicatively handicapped minority language populations. ASHA, 27, 6.
Bedore, L.M. and Peña, E.D. (2008): Assessment of Bilingual Children for Identification of Language Impairment: Current Findings and Implications for Practice. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 11: 1, 1-29.
Cummins, J. (2001): Linguistic interdependence and the educational development of bilingual children. In: Baker, C. & Hornberger, N. (Hrsg.), An introductory reader to the writings of Jim Cummins. Multilingual Matters: Clevedon, 63-95.
IALP (International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics) (2011): Recommendations for working with bilingual children - Multilingual Affairs Committee of IALP, update. http//:ialp.info/Recommendations-Guidelines-pg16153.html (01-14-2013).
Scharff Rethfeldt, W. (2010): Sonderpädagogische Feststellung der Sprachkompetenz mehrsprachiger Kinder vor dem Hintergrund ihrer persönlichen Lebenssituation und der schulischen Anforderung. Idstein: Schulz-Kirchner.
Scharff Rethfeldt, W. (2013): Kindliche Mehrsprachigkeit – Grundlagen und Praxis der sprachtherapeutischen Intervention. Stuttgart: Thieme.