“Is my child at risk of a language impairment because we speak two languages?“
As a bilingual speech language pathologist, I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve had a parent come into my treatment room full of embarrassment and shame, as they ask “is this my fault?” No! Wanting to preserve your culture and foster the ability to communicate and connect with your child is not the cause of a language impairment. On the contrary, research shows duo-language learners have numerous neurological advantages.
One study found that bilingual children had better executive function, or the ability to plan, organize, and complete tasks, compared to monolingual children (Bialystok, 2001). Executive function is an important predictor of language development as it involves the ability to use language to solve problems and communicate effectively. Another study found that bilingual children had a more advanced theory of mind, or the ability to understand the thoughts and feelings of others, compared to monolingual children (Bialystok, 2006). Theory of mind is also an important predictor of language development as it involves the ability to use language to express and interpret others’ mental states. In addition to these cognitive benefits, being bilingual has also been found to have a protective effect against age-related cognitive decline (Bialystok, Craik, & Freedman, 2007). This means that bilingual individuals may be less likely to experience cognitive decline as they age, compared to monolingual individuals.
Given these neurological benefits, it is clear that being bilingual is not the cause of a language impairment. In fact, it is likely that any language impairment in a bilingual child would be due to other factors. However, the reality is this concept of being bilingual leading to impairments is a common misconception. As a speech language pathologist it is vital we continue to educate those around us of the benefits and we stop encouraging bilingual families from speaking their native language.
***It is also important to recognize that a language impairment would be visible in both languages, not just one.*** If a child is experiencing a language impairment, they may have difficulty producing and comprehending language in both languages.
If you are a bilingual Spanish speaker and you are worried about your child’s language development, feel free to reach out. If you are local to the Tampa Bay area we would be happy to meet with you in person. If you are a little farther we are happy to do a virtual meeting and provide as much guidance as possible.
Ultimately anyone can have a language impairment, but it’s not going to be caused by being bilingual. And if you are struggling with this currently as a parent, we are here to walk alongside you, support you, or point you in the right direction.
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