ERIC Number: EJ1478974
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0161-1461
EISSN: EISSN-1558-9129
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Speech-Language Pathologists' Perspectives on Language Assessment in Bilingual Children
Michelle Hernandez; Katrina Fulcher-Rood; Anny Castilla-Earls
Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, v56 n3 p646-665 2025
Purpose: This study used a semistructured open interview approach to gather information from school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs) regarding their assessment practices for bilingual children with suspected language disorders. Method: Phone interviews were conducted with 25 school-based SLPs across the United States. The interviews explored assessment topics related to tool selection and rationale and the integration of assessment data to determine diagnosis and treatment eligibility. Results: The results of this study suggest that SLPs use a combination of norm-referenced and informal assessments when evaluating bilingual children. Informal measures, such as parent/teacher interviews and language sampling, were relied upon for diagnostic decisions, contrasting with the emphasis on norm-referenced testing observed in previous research. District policies and guidelines influenced norm-referenced assessments. Informal tools were used to capture natural language use, provide a comprehensive view of bilingual abilities, and gather detailed case histories. Conclusions: School-based SLPs integrate norm-referenced and informal measures in their bilingual assessment practices, with a notable reliance on informal assessments for diagnostic decision making. This approach contrasts with the reliance on norm-referenced measures typically observed in monolingual assessment practices, reflecting SLPs' potential recognition of limitations and biases in norm-referenced tests when used with bilingual children. The findings suggest that SLPs are aware of and use culturally sensitive diagnostic practices.
Descriptors: Language Tests, Allied Health Personnel, Speech Language Pathology, Attitudes, Language Impairments, Language Usage, Informal Assessment, Bias, Referral, Preschool Children, Elementary School Students, Middle School Students, High School Students, Bilingual Students, Student Evaluation
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 2200 Research Blvd #250, Rockville, MD 20850. Tel: 301-296-5700; Fax: 301-296-8580; e-mail: lshss@asha.org; Web site: http://lshss.pubs.asha.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Elementary Education; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education; High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: California; Pennsylvania; Illinois; Massachusetts; Washington; Minnesota; Colorado; New Jersey; Maryland; Texas; Oklahoma; New Mexico; Connecticut; Michigan; Oregon
Grant or Contract Numbers: F31DC021619
Author Affiliations: N/A