{"id":831,"date":"2020-04-30T10:37:49","date_gmt":"2020-04-30T17:37:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.sd41.bc.ca\/slp\/?page_id=831"},"modified":"2024-02-23T09:32:45","modified_gmt":"2024-02-23T17:32:45","slug":"bilingualism","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sd41.bc.ca\/slp\/topic\/language\/bilingualism\/","title":{"rendered":"Bilingualism and Language Delay"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span>Learning two languages in childhood does not cause confusion or language delay<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Some people may mistakenly believe that raising a child in a bilingual<\/span>\u00a0or multilingual<\/span>\u00a0household (meaning they speak more than one language) puts them at risk for language delays. Language delays\u202f<\/span>can\u202f<\/span><\/i>still occur in bilingual children, but bilingualism itself is not the cause.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>The idea that two languages causes language delays in children has been a long-standing myth in English communities. However, research has dispelled this myth. Children\u00a0<\/span>are able to<\/span>\u00a0learn two languages at the same pace as other children who are learning only one language.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

All<\/b> children can learn more than one language, even if they have a developmental delay or other diagnosis<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

Thankfully<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0the facts about bilingualism and how bilingual children\u2019s languages develop are\u00a0<\/span>becoming<\/span>\u00a0more widely known. Some professionals continue to tell parents to drop a language when their children are experiencing speech and language or developmental delays. However, we now know all children can be given the opportunity to be bilingual. This applies to families that use a language other than English in their home, or families that are choosing to pursue additional language programs in school, such as French immersion.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Bilingualism does not cause confusion or language delay, even if the child has a developmental delay or another diagnosis<\/span>\u00a0such as Autism Spectrum Disorder or Down Syndrome<\/span>. Current research overwhelmingly shows that speaking to children with these diagnoses in two or more languages does not result in additional language or social delays.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Just like monolingual children, bilingual kids may also have speech and language<\/b>–<\/b>related\u00a0<\/b>challenges<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

\u00a0<\/span>As with all children, families of bilingual children need to be aware of potential speech and language delays<\/span>. These elays<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>can<\/span>\u00a0exist<\/span>\u00a0just<\/span>\u00a0like with monolingual children, but they are not due to multilingualism in the family. Children who have delayed language development would be delayed\u00a0<\/span>regardless of\u00a0<\/span>whether they are mono<\/span>lingual<\/span>\u00a0or multilingual.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are concerned,\u00a0<\/span>discuss your observations about<\/span>\u00a0your child\u2019s linguistic abilities<\/span>\u00a0with a speech-language pathologist to determine whether further assessment would be beneficial.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0What can bilingual parents do to help their child?\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n