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From: Brian Humphrey
Date: 11 Oct 2008
Time: 16:38:28 -0500
Remote Name: 76.17.183.48
Margaret, you wrote: ... if you're a bilingual therapist, and are lucky enough to speak both the languages of your client, would you recommend targeting the more dysfluent language or the more proficient langauge? - - - - - If you are lucky enough to speak both of the same languages as a client, then you can agree with the client and/or the client's caregiver whether to treat stuttering in one language or in both. There are many options for providing service. For example, one of my current clients is being treated in English in the clinic by me, and in English and Spanish at home, in a parent-run program. His dad or his mom sits in on every session; and they conduct part of each session in my presence, so they can learn to work with him. They fill out and bring in simple rating scales documenting home practice. They have not provided data on Spanish and English separately, but they report that their son is improving in both languages. Not every set of parents may choose such an option, but it seems to work well for my little client. . . . . Here is another observation that has to do with the issue of reporting data according to the language spoken: when people are truly bilingual or multilingual, they may not always be entirely conscious of which language they may be speaking at a given moment. I have listened to a trilingual friend switch from English to Spanish to French in the same conversation, without being aware of changing languages to respond to her conversation partners. - BH