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An Investigation of the Clinical Considerations of Speech-Language Pathologists When Working With Spanish-English Bilingual Adults With Aphasia

head shot for Mia Chen

Name: Mia Chen
Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders
Minors: Psychology and Spanish
Advisors: Dr. Joan E. Furey; Dr. Grit Herzmann (second reader)

The broad purpose of this study was to investigate clinical considerations of speech-language pathologists when working with Spanish-English bilingual adults with aphasia. More specifically, I investigated assessment and treatment practices with this population. Finally, I explored how practices of monolingual and bilingual clinicians may have differed. A quantitative research method of survey research was utilized to investigate monolingual and bilingual SLPs’ assessment and treatment practices for this population. Findings from this study indicated that SLPs have limited comfort working with Spanish-English bilingual adults with aphasia. In addition, there were no differences in the clinical considerations between monolingual and bilingual SLPs. One major implication of this research is the need to increase the comfort levels in assessing and treating bilingual clients with aphasia. Training programs may want to consider increasing didactic instruction and clinical training geared toward establishing a more holistic understanding about bilingual aphasia. Another implication of this research is that being bilingual does not automatically make the SLP more comfortable in providing services to bilingual clients with aphasia Therefore, it is important that all SLPs who are trained to provide aphasia services, find ways to feel more comfortable assessing and treating Spanish-English bilingual adults with aphasia.

Key Words: Spanish-English bilingual aphasia, assessment, treatment, comfort levels, barriers, formal assessment tools

Posted in Comments Enabled, Independent Study, Symposium 2022 on April 26, 2022.


10 responses to “An Investigation of the Clinical Considerations of Speech-Language Pathologists When Working With Spanish-English Bilingual Adults With Aphasia”

  1. Diane R Uber says:

    Congratulations on your IS presentation, Mia. I am delighted to see that you continued with Spanish, after I had you in Intermediate Spanish as a First-Year student! Best wishes for the future, and please keep in touch.
    Felicitaciones!
    Professor Uber

  2. Horner Chen says:

    Congratulations Mia. Great job in your IS thesis. You have matured tremendously and made so much progress over the last 4 years. You are indeed a student athlete par excellence. And what a wonderful choice of College. Go FIGHTING SCOT!

  3. Whopper Chen says:

    Great job Sis….Love you always, Hobbes and Whopper

  4. Whopper Chen says:

    Great job Sis….Love you always, Hobbes and Whopper

  5. Bea says:

    An excellent study combining the study of Aphasia with your interest in the method of treatment as it affects bilingual Spanish speakers and concluding that more has to be done for that subgroup of patients to make sure they get the same medical advantage as the rest of the population. Proud that you even thought of that,

  6. Grace and Ken Dols says:

    Interesting and useful topic. Congratulations!!!

  7. Phebe Chen says:

    Very interesting and insightful research. Congrats!!

  8. Anne Bowers says:

    Amazing Mia! I’m proud of all you have accomplished! You’re going to be a great SLP!

  9. Rachel Semel says:

    Congrats Mia!!

  10. Chan Sok Park says:

    Mia, what exciting work! Congratulations, and best wishes for what’s ahead in your life journey.

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