What Influences Speech Pathology Practice for Children with Complex Communication Needs from Multilingual Families?...

Area of Science:

• Speech Pathology
• Communication Sciences
• Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

• Supporting children with complex communication needs (CCN) and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is complex.
• Current support for multilingual families is inconsistent and lacks research guidance.
• Australia's multicultural society presents unique challenges for speech pathology services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore influences on Australian speech pathologists' (SPs) practice with children with CCN in multilingual families.
• To identify challenges and facilitators in providing AAC support to diverse populations.
• To understand the perspectives of SPs working in a multicultural context.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving interviews with 23 Australian SPs.
• Thematic analysis was used to analyze interview data.
• Focus on SPs working with culturally and linguistically diverse families.

Main Results:

• Four themes emerged: service expectations, English dominance, addressing challenges, and growth/constraints.
• SPs navigated differing perspectives on communication, disability, and AAC.
• The pervasiveness of English acted as a significant barrier in service delivery.

Conclusions:

• Cultural and linguistic diversity in Australia creates resource access and development challenges.
• Systemic limitations hinder SPs' ability to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services.
• Findings contribute to developing more effective services for children with CCN in diverse Australian communities.