SLP Multicultural & Bilingual Considerations 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The IDEA mandate relevant to ELL students with suspected disabilities requires that assessment be conducted:
- Exclusively in English to ensure legal compliance
- In the child's native language or other appropriate communication mode (Correct answer)
- By a bilingual psychologist only
- After at least two years of English-only instruction
Correct answer: In the child's native language or other appropriate communication mode
IDEA requires that evaluations use the child's native language or other appropriate communication mode unless it is clearly not feasible to do so.
Question 2: An SLP notices that a bilingual parent consistently uses a mix of Spanish and English when speaking to their toddler. The SLP should:
- Advise the parent to choose one language to prevent confusion
- Reassure the parent that code-switching is a normal feature of bilingual communication (Correct answer)
- Refer the family to a monolingual Spanish SLP
- Document this as a risk factor for language delay
Correct answer: Reassure the parent that code-switching is a normal feature of bilingual communication
Code-switching among bilingual individuals is a sophisticated linguistic skill, not a sign of confusion or language delay, and parents should not be discouraged from using their natural communication style.
Question 3: Which of the following is a key feature of culturally responsive goal-setting in SLP?
- Goals are determined solely by standardized test scores
- Family communication priorities and cultural values inform goal selection (Correct answer)
- Goals focus exclusively on acquiring mainstream American English
- The SLP selects goals without consulting the family to maintain objectivity
Correct answer: Family communication priorities and cultural values inform goal selection
Culturally responsive practice requires that intervention goals reflect the family's communication needs, values, and participation priorities rather than only clinician-determined targets.
Question 4: A Spanish-English bilingual child scores below the 10th percentile on an English standardized language test. The SLP should:
- Diagnose a language disorder based on this score alone
- Also assess Spanish language skills before drawing diagnostic conclusions (Correct answer)
- Recommend immediate intensive English language intervention
- Conclude the child has limited cognitive ability
Correct answer: Also assess Spanish language skills before drawing diagnostic conclusions
A low score on an English-only measure does not distinguish language disorder from language difference; Spanish skills must be assessed to make an accurate diagnosis.
Question 5: The term 'heritage language' refers to:
- The dominant language taught in public schools
- A language other than the societal majority language spoken in the home (Correct answer)
- Any language spoken before age five
- American Sign Language used by Deaf communities
Correct answer: A language other than the societal majority language spoken in the home
A heritage language is a language other than the dominant societal language that is used in the home and may be the child's first language or language of cultural identity.
Question 6: Which practice best supports a Deaf child from a hearing family in developing language?
- Encouraging the family to learn and use American Sign Language at home (Correct answer)
- Restricting all communication to spoken English only
- Waiting until the child starts school to introduce language
- Using simplified speech and avoiding signing to prevent confusion
Correct answer: Encouraging the family to learn and use American Sign Language at home
Research supports early, rich language input through sign language to maximize linguistic development for Deaf children; family involvement is critical for this access.
Question 7: A child recently arrived from another country shows limited English but age-appropriate skills in the home language. The SLP should classify this as:
- Language disorder in both languages
- Language difference reflecting limited English exposure (Correct answer)
- Selective mutism due to cultural adjustment
- Language delay requiring immediate intervention
Correct answer: Language difference reflecting limited English exposure
Age-appropriate home language skills indicate typical development; limited English is a language difference attributable to exposure, not a disorder.
SLP Multicultural & Bilingual Considerations 3
The IDEA mandate relevant to ELL students with suspected disabilities requires that assessment be conducted: