Introduction
In the realm of speech-language pathology, understanding the nuances of dialects is crucial for effective assessment and intervention. The research article titled "Marking of Tense and Agreement in Language Samples by Children With and Without Specific Language Impairment in African American English and Southern White English" provides groundbreaking insights into how dialect-informed approaches can enhance the identification and treatment of specific language impairment (SLI) in children. This blog explores the key findings and their implications for practitioners.
Understanding the Research
The study evaluated the marking of tense and agreement (T/A) in language samples from children speaking African American English (AAE) and Southern White English (SWE). By comparing typically developing children with those having SLI, the research aimed to refine scoring approaches and cut scores for better clinical classification. The study involved 70 AAE-speaking and 36 SWE-speaking kindergartners, divided into SLI and typically developing groups.
Key Findings
- Diverse Inventory: Children exhibited a broad range of mainstream and nonmainstream T/A forms, highlighting the linguistic richness of AAE and SWE.
- Strategic Scoring: This approach, which considers both mainstream and nonmainstream forms, provided the greatest differentiation between clinical groups while minimizing dialect effects.
- Dialect-Specific Cut Scores: These scores enhanced clinical classification accuracy, with past tense measures showing the highest accuracy.
Clinical Implications
For practitioners, these findings underscore the importance of a dialect-informed approach in assessing and treating SLI. Here’s how you can apply these insights:
- Adopt Strategic Scoring: Incorporate both mainstream and nonmainstream forms in your assessments to better differentiate between typical development and SLI.
- Use Dialect-Specific Cut Scores: Tailor your clinical benchmarks to reflect the linguistic norms of AAE and SWE, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all standard.
- Focus on Past Tense: Prioritize past tense measures in your assessments, as they offer the highest classification accuracy.
Encouraging Further Research
While the study provides valuable insights, it also highlights the need for further research. Practitioners are encouraged to explore the application of these findings in diverse settings and with different age groups. Additionally, investigating other dialects and languages can broaden our understanding of SLI across linguistic contexts.
Conclusion
By embracing dialect-informed approaches, speech-language pathologists can enhance their practice and contribute to more equitable and effective outcomes for children with SLI. This research invites us to rethink traditional assessment methods and adopt strategies that honor the linguistic diversity of our clients.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Marking of Tense and Agreement in Language Samples by Children With and Without Specific Language Impairment in African American English and Southern White English: Evaluation of Scoring Approaches and Cut Scores Across Structures.
