Being multilingual is an asset…significant variations frequently occur—things like individual skill and experience in each language spoken. These variations can create a multitude of possibilities.
The case study below reviews thoughts and best practices on achieving better outcomes in your multilingual service.
Multilingualism in Action: Sam’s Story
"I wasn't sure what to expect when I called to make an appointment for an evaluation for my child. The teacher shared that Sam wasn't following directions in class or answering any questions. Sam had a lot of ear infections—starting when he was very young—and we saw the doctors before we moved to the U.S. The doctors treated the ear infections and told us not to worry. Sam was a good child but didn't speak too much. This wasn't that different for our older child. Our children learned like we did: they observed and knew to wait to speak until spoken to.
When we got to the U.S., we knew that Sam would start to speak English at school. We waited, but there were no words in either language. We have heard that sometimes kids may be quieter when they are learning more than one language. A friend told us that this is called the "silent period."
Someone [who is] called a speech-language pathologist (SLP) helped us to work with Sam. The SLP said that we should get Sam's hearing tested. We are so glad that we did. The audiologist tested Sam's hearing and told us he had a hearing loss. Now, we knew for sure that it wasn't just because he was learning English [a second language for him] that Sam wasn't responding.
We weren't sure what to expect since we were new to the country. The audiologist worked with us, an interpreter, the SLP, and the teachers to create a plan to help Sam in the classroom. We are so grateful for this team."
Multilingualism is an asset. Determining the absence or presence of a speech, language, or hearing disorder may require working with an interdisciplinary team. Teams work together to provide comprehensive, high-quality services to individuals and their families/care partners to provide patient-centered care.
Tips for Working With Multilingual Patients
- Ask for relevant background information.
- Allow the client and their family to share their concerns and indicate how they would like help.
- Familiarize yourself with all of the client goals, including those from additional service providers.
- Research all linguistic systems and any potential influences during your process.
