In many multilingual households, children grow up exposed to two or more languages from an early age. While this offers tremendous cognitive, social, and cultural benefits, it occasionally may lead to an individual’s speech and language development looking different from that of their monolingual peers.
Bilingual children are sometimes misdiagnosed with a language disorder when they are actually showing normal features of bilingual language development. Understanding how bilingualism interacts with speech and language skills is essential for accurate assessment and effective intervention. Let’s clear up some common misconceptions and explore how bilingualism relates to speech and language development — and how speech-language pathologists (SLPs) can support bilingual learners.
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Why Misdiagnosis Happens
Speech and language development can vary widely depending on the child’s exposure, environment, and experiences in each language. When a bilingual child mixes languages or seems to have a smaller vocabulary in one language, it might appear as a delay. However, these differences are often language differences — not disorders.
Bilingual children often have the same overall language development milestones on a similar timeline to monolingual children, but the distribution of their vocabulary and grammar is spread across two languages. SLPs use a concept called total vocabulary to measure language development across both languages. This approach provides a more accurate picture of a bilingual child’s skills. Typically developing children have approximately 10-50 words in their expressive vocabulary by 18 months. If a bilingual child has half the amount of words in English, it may be misunderstood as a language delay; however, if you look at their vocabulary use in both English and their other household language, they are likely hitting the 10-50 words milestone. Without proper consideration of both languages, an assessment may underestimate a child’s true abilities.
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Language Difference vs. Language Disorder
A language difference refers to variations in speech or language that reflect cultural or linguistic diversity. For example, using grammar or pronunciation patterns influenced by a child’s other language.
A language disorder, on the other hand, is when it is challenging to understand or use language that affects communication across all languages spoken by the child. SLPs determine this by assessing whether challenges occur in both languages or are specific to one.
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The Role of Speech-Language Pathologists
Speech-language pathologists are trained to distinguish between a difference and a disorder using evidence-based bilingual assessment practices. These may include:
- Evaluating the child’s skills in both languages.
- Considering cultural and linguistic background when interpreting results.
- Using dynamic assessment and parent interviews to understand language exposure and use.
- Collaborating with interpreters or bilingual clinicians when necessary.
By taking a holistic, culturally responsive approach, SLPs can ensure that bilingual children receive accurate diagnoses and appropriate support.
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Supporting Bilingual Growth at Home
Parents can support language development by:
- Speaking to their child in the language they are most comfortable with.
- Reading books, telling stories, and singing songs in both languages.
- Encouraging their child to use both languages in everyday situations.
- Staying consistent and positive, maintaining both languages is an asset.
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The Benefits of Bilingualism
Bilingualism is a cognitive and cultural strength. Studies have shown that bilingual individuals often demonstrate enhanced executive function skills such as attention control, problem-solving, and mental flexibility. Maintaining both languages also supports identity, family connection, and cross-cultural understanding.
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Key Takeaway
Bilingualism does not lead to language delays. When a bilingual child experiences communication challenges, SLPs look closely at both languages to determine whether it’s a language difference or a true language disorder. With accurate assessment and informed support, bilingual children can thrive in all the languages that are meaningful to them.
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-HANNA MOELLER, Illinois State University, Senior Research and Marketing Intern
-NICOLE BUTLER, M.S., CCC-SLP/L (ASHA Certified and licensed Speech-Language Pathologist, Founder and Executive Director of Speech Within Reach.)
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